SAUDI RED CRESCENT TO SEND HUMANITARIAN CONVOY TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 006003 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR LEBANON TASK FORCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV LE EAID SA SUBJECT: SAUDI RED CRESCENT TO SEND HUMANITARIAN CONVOY TO BEIRUT JULY 30 REF: NEA/ARPI 7/28 EMAIL Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) NIACT precedence justified by urgent operational information and alternate work week. This message responds to Lebanon Task Force and Embassy Tel Aviv requests for assurances and information, to be shared with the IDF, concerning the planned travel of a Saudi relief convoy to Lebanon. ¶2. (C) The Saudi Red Crescent and Saudi Ministry of Health plan to send a convoy of 23 trucks transporting emergency relief supplies and personnel from Saudi Arabia to Beirut on the morning of July 30. The convoy is expected to travel through Jordan and cross into Lebanon at Al Abbudiyah on the Syria-Lebanon border approximately between 0800-0900 local time Sunday, July 30 en route to Beirut via the coastal highway through Tripoli. ETA in Beirut is 1200 hrs local time. Emboff from the Saudi Embassy in Beirut faxed Post a list of the vehicle plate numbers, model, make, and color of the vehicles, in addition to the cargo contents and weight of the vehicles. Post will forward to the Lebanon task force. ¶3. (U) Point of contact for the Saudi Embassy in Lebanon is Mr. Mohammed al-Hajjaj, cellular number: 00 961 338 8551. Mr. al-Hajjaj told Post that he will meet the convoy at the Syria-Lebanon border and accompany it to Beirut. ¶4. (U) Point of contact for Embassy Riyadh is Political Officer Martin Dale; cellular 966 50 525 2815, Office: 966 1 488-3800 ext. 4526, dalema@state.gov. OBERWETTER