EU to Train Lebanese Army Amid UN Peacekeeper Exit

The European Union announced Monday the establishment of a new mission to train and assist the Lebanese army, aiming to bolster its capacity to control the country, secure its borders, and manage internal security challenges. This initiative comes as the Lebanese army faces significant economic hardship, struggling to assert its authority, and as the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, in southern Lebanon nears its end.

The EU mission will provide advisory and training support to the Lebanese armed forces and internal security agencies. European officials indicated to AFP that the mission could involve up to 150 civilian and military personnel. "The mission will advise the Lebanese armed forces and internal security forces and assist them in strengthening territorial control, border security, and internal security," stated EU Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas. She described this as a substantial upgrade in security relations between the EU and Lebanon, emphasizing the goal of supporting Lebanese institutions in their efforts to restore full sovereignty and achieve long-term stability.

This EU move occurs during a particularly sensitive period in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese army, severely lacking resources and equipment, is tasked with completing its deployment in the south as part of a framework agreement reached between Israel and Lebanon brokered by the US in June. The army's ability to establish control in the region is considered a key challenge.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah reignited in March, leading to extensive Israeli airstrikes and ground operations in Lebanon. According to Lebanese authorities, over 4,300 people have been killed. The Israeli military currently maintains a security zone approximately ten kilometers deep along the border within Lebanese territory. Since the ceasefire understandings between the US and Iran in June, followed by the Israeli-Lebanese framework agreement, the intensity of violence in the area has decreased.

The EU stresses that the new mission is not intended to replace UNIFIL but to directly aid Lebanese security institutions in enhancing their capabilities and control over the country. The establishment of the mission reflects the EU's broader efforts to strengthen Lebanese state institutions amidst significant security and economic challenges, particularly the difficulty the Lebanese army faces in asserting its authority in a country where Hezbollah maintains an independent military force.