Advertisement

German defense minister visits troops in Lebanon

  • German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, center, boards a German UNIFIL vessel, at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday April 24, 2014. Minister Ursula von der Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with the Lebanese officials and to visit her country’s naval troops. Germany has been a contributor since 2006 to the UNIFIL maritime mission in Lebanon which aims at supporting the Lebanese navy in securing Lebanon’s maritime borders. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
    1/6

    German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, center, boards a German UNIFIL vessel, at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday April 24, 2014. Minister Ursula von der Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with the Lebanese officials and to visit her country’s naval troops. Germany has been a contributor since 2006 to the UNIFIL maritime mission in Lebanon which aims at supporting the Lebanese navy in securing Lebanon’s maritime borders. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
  • German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, left, stands in front of a German UNIFIL vessel as she reads a statement, at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday April 24, 2014. Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with Lebanese officials and to visit the German UNIFIL navy troops. Germany has been a contributor since 2006 to the UNIFIL maritime mission in Lebanon which aims at supporting the Lebanese navy in security Lebanon’s maritime borders. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
    2/6

    German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, left, stands in front of a German UNIFIL vessel as she reads a statement, at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday April 24, 2014. Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with Lebanese officials and to visit the German UNIFIL navy troops. Germany has been a contributor since 2006 to the UNIFIL maritime mission in Lebanon which aims at supporting the Lebanese navy in security Lebanon’s maritime borders. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
  • A German navy U.N. peacekeeper sets the German flag on the UNIFIL German vessel, during preparation for the visit of the German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, in the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 24, 2014. Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with Lebanese officials and to visit the German UNIFIL navy troops. Germany has been a contributor since 2006 to the UNIFIL maritime mission in Lebanon which aims at supporting the Lebanese navy in securing Lebanon’s maritime borders. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
    3/6

    A German navy U.N. peacekeeper sets the German flag on the UNIFIL German vessel, during preparation for the visit of the German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, in the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 24, 2014. Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with Lebanese officials and to visit the German UNIFIL navy troops. Germany has been a contributor since 2006 to the UNIFIL maritime mission in Lebanon which aims at supporting the Lebanese navy in securing Lebanon’s maritime borders. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • German navy U.N. peacekeepers, stand on their vessel, as they await the arrival of the German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, in the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 24, 2014. Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with Lebanese officials and to visit the German UNIFIL navy troops. Germany has been a contributor since 2006 to the UNIFIL maritime mission in Lebanon which aims at supporting the Lebanese navy in securing Lebanon’s maritime borders. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
    4/6

    German navy U.N. peacekeepers, stand on their vessel, as they await the arrival of the German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, in the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 24, 2014. Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with Lebanese officials and to visit the German UNIFIL navy troops. Germany has been a contributor since 2006 to the UNIFIL maritime mission in Lebanon which aims at supporting the Lebanese navy in securing Lebanon’s maritime borders. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
  • A German navy U.N peacekeeper, left, fixes her beret as she prepares to receive with other comrades the German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, at the UNIFIL German vessel, in the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 24, 2014. Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with the Lebanese officials and to visit to the German UNIFIL navy troops. Minister Ursula von der Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with the Lebanese officials and to visit her country’s naval forces. Germany has been a contributor since 2006 to the UNIFIL maritime mission in Lebanon which aims at supporting the Lebanese navy in security Lebanon’s maritime borders. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
    5/6

    A German navy U.N peacekeeper, left, fixes her beret as she prepares to receive with other comrades the German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, at the UNIFIL German vessel, in the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 24, 2014. Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with the Lebanese officials and to visit to the German UNIFIL navy troops. Minister Ursula von der Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with the Lebanese officials and to visit her country’s naval forces. Germany has been a contributor since 2006 to the UNIFIL maritime mission in Lebanon which aims at supporting the Lebanese navy in security Lebanon’s maritime borders. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
  • A U.N peacekeeper German navy cameraman, right, films German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, left, who stands in front of a German UNIFIL vessel as she reads a statement, at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday April 24, 2014. Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with Lebanese officials and to visit to the German UNIFIL navy troops. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
    6/6

    A U.N peacekeeper German navy cameraman, right, films German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, left, who stands in front of a German UNIFIL vessel as she reads a statement, at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday April 24, 2014. Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with Lebanese officials and to visit to the German UNIFIL navy troops. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, center, boards a German UNIFIL vessel, at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday April 24, 2014. Minister Ursula von der Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with the Lebanese officials and to visit her country’s naval troops. Germany has been a contributor since 2006 to the UNIFIL maritime mission in Lebanon which aims at supporting the Lebanese navy in securing Lebanon’s maritime borders. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, left, stands in front of a German UNIFIL vessel as she reads a statement, at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday April 24, 2014. Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with Lebanese officials and to visit the German UNIFIL navy troops. Germany has been a contributor since 2006 to the UNIFIL maritime mission in Lebanon which aims at supporting the Lebanese navy in security Lebanon’s maritime borders. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
A German navy U.N. peacekeeper sets the German flag on the UNIFIL German vessel, during preparation for the visit of the German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, in the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 24, 2014. Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with Lebanese officials and to visit the German UNIFIL navy troops. Germany has been a contributor since 2006 to the UNIFIL maritime mission in Lebanon which aims at supporting the Lebanese navy in securing Lebanon’s maritime borders. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
German navy U.N. peacekeepers, stand on their vessel, as they await the arrival of the German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, in the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 24, 2014. Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with Lebanese officials and to visit the German UNIFIL navy troops. Germany has been a contributor since 2006 to the UNIFIL maritime mission in Lebanon which aims at supporting the Lebanese navy in securing Lebanon’s maritime borders. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
A German navy U.N peacekeeper, left, fixes her beret as she prepares to receive with other comrades the German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, at the UNIFIL German vessel, in the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 24, 2014. Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with the Lebanese officials and to visit to the German UNIFIL navy troops. Minister Ursula von der Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with the Lebanese officials and to visit her country’s naval forces. Germany has been a contributor since 2006 to the UNIFIL maritime mission in Lebanon which aims at supporting the Lebanese navy in security Lebanon’s maritime borders. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
A U.N peacekeeper German navy cameraman, right, films German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, left, who stands in front of a German UNIFIL vessel as she reads a statement, at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday April 24, 2014. Leyen is in Lebanon to meet with Lebanese officials and to visit to the German UNIFIL navy troops. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Associated Press

BEIRUT (AP) — Germany's defense minister has expressed her country's support for Lebanon and discussed means to help the Mideast nation as it deals with an influx of over one million Syrian refugees fleeing the civil war.

Minister Ursula von der Leyen spoke at a press conference in Beirut on Thursday. Afterward, she boarded a German vessel at the Beirut port and met with German troops who contribute in the United Nations force in Lebanon.

Germany has 195 soldiers contributing to the UNIFIL maritime mission, which supports the Lebanese navy in security Lebanon's maritime borders.

Von der Leyen told reporters she and Lebanese officials discussed German assistance to the Lebanese army, including training on mechatronics for coastal radar systems and other assistance.