December 22, 2010: France is giving Lebanon 100 HOT anti-tank missiles. Similar to the American TOW, the 24.5 kg (54 pound) HOT has a range of 4,300 meters and entered service in the 1970s. Israel has protested this gift, pointing out that many weapons given to the Lebanese armed forces recently have ended up in the possession of the Iranian supported Hezbollah militia that controls southern Lebanon. France counters, unofficially, that it has always supported only the Christian militias (who see France as an ancient patron and ally), but cannot be responsible for whatever deals their Christian Lebanese allies make.