Paris Hosts International Summit on Lebanese Army Support Amid UNIFIL Drawdown
European and Arab military leaders and officials are meeting in Paris on Thursday to discuss the needs of the Lebanese army and security arrangements related to the impending reduction of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission. The talks, chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, will also include Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Jordanian King Abdullah II. The United States will participate through a senior military official focused on Middle East security issues. This meeting occurs outside the formal US-led track, despite ongoing US-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon aimed at de-escalating border tensions. However, diplomats have expressed skepticism about an imminent breakthrough, citing upcoming elections in Israel and the US.
An earlier framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon, brokered by the US, proposed a gradual Israeli troop withdrawal in exchange for Lebanese authorities disarming Hezbollah and deploying their forces in southern Lebanon. The Paris meeting will focus on identifying the military and financial requirements for the Lebanese army, with a donor conference anticipated for late 2026 or early 2027. A key concern is the potential security vacuum as UNIFIL, comprising approximately 7,500 personnel, begins to scale back its presence starting next January.
Lebanon and France support extending UNIFIL's mandate, but the US and Israel have not backed a longer mission. Alternative proposals include a new international mission, potentially led by France and Italy outside the UN framework, or an EU-led mission. Both options would focus on training and equipping the Lebanese army, intelligence sharing, and providing advisory support.
A French presidential official noted that the mechanisms for this international or multinational action are still being defined, and that Lebanon has not yet presented demands aligning with US requirements at the UN Security Council. The conditions and mandate for any new presence require clear definition. The meeting takes place amid rising fears in Lebanon of a renewed Israeli military campaign, following intensified strikes despite a June ceasefire agreement between the Israeli military and Hezbollah. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that Israeli airstrikes on a southern Lebanese town on Monday killed at least 13 people, including six children, marking one of the deadliest days of Israeli bombing in recent weeks and highlighting the fragile security situation.
