Paris Convenes Military Leaders to Chart Lebanon’s Post‑UN Security Future

European and Arab commanders will gather in Paris on Thursday to evaluate the Lebanese Armed Forces’ needs and decide how to fill the security void left when the United Nations’ peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, begins to draw down from January. The meeting, chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Jordan’s King Abdullah, will also include a senior U.S. military official, though it is not formally part of Washington’s diplomatic push.

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a phased withdrawal framework: Israeli troops will gradually pull back as Lebanese forces disarm Hezbollah and take over the south. The Paris talks aim to determine the precise military and financial requirements ahead of a donor conference expected in late 2026 or early 2027.

While Lebanon and France favour extending UNIFIL’s mandate, the United States and Israel have not signalled support for prolonging the mission. Instead, officials are exploring a new international force backed by France and Italy that would operate outside a UN mandate, as well as a potential EU‑led mission. Both options would focus on training, equipment, intelligence sharing and mentoring for the Lebanese army.

A French presidency spokesperson noted that the modalities of any multinational action remain to be defined, citing the need to align Lebanese requests with U.S. Security Council demands and to clarify the mission’s mandate.

The urgency of the discussion is underscored by recent violence: Israeli airstrikes on a southern Lebanese town killed at least 13 people, including six children, on Monday, marking one of the deadliest days of bombardment in recent weeks. These attacks follow a June ceasefire that was meant to halt fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, heightening fears of a renewed campaign in the region.