European and Arab military officials will meet in Paris on September 17 to assess the needs of the Lebanese Army and discuss the imminent end of the United Nations peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL). This meeting comes amid concerns about the potential for a new military campaign by Israel in southern Lebanon.
Presence of High-Ranking Officials
The talks, chaired by Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, and attended by Joseph Aoun, the President of Lebanon, and Abdullah II, the King of Jordan, are not officially part of U.S. efforts. However, a senior U.S. military official involved in Middle Eastern security issues will be present at the meeting.
Framework of the Israel-Lebanon Agreement
As part of negotiations mediated by the United States, Israel and Lebanon have signed an agreement under which Israeli forces will gradually withdraw from Lebanon, and Lebanese officials will be tasked with neutralizing Hezbollah and establishing a presence in the south of the country. Officials in Paris are working to assess the precise military and financial needs ahead of a donor conference likely to be held in late 2026 or early 2027.
Immediate concerns exist regarding filling the security vacuum resulting from the reduction of UN peacekeeping forces. This force, which has about 7,500 personnel, will gradually decrease starting in January. While both Lebanon and France support the extension of the UN mission, the United States and Israel have yet to show any signs of support for extending this mission.
At this meeting, officials will explore options for establishing a new international mission that operates with the support of France and Italy. This mission could operate outside the UN framework and focus on training, equipment, information sharing, and advisory support for the Lebanese Army.
As the security situation in Lebanon remains highly unstable, recent Israeli attacks on a city in southern Lebanon have resulted in the deaths of at least 13 people, including six children. This has become one of the deadliest days of Israeli bombings in recent weeks, heightening concerns about the possibility of renewed Israeli military operations in Lebanon.
