Key facts
- Over 10 EU member states are willing to contribute to a mission to train Lebanon's armed forces.
- The mission aims to bolster the Lebanese state's security capabilities and enable the army to focus on disarming Hezbollah.
- The EU mission is intended to complement, not replace, the UN force (UNIFIL) whose mandate expires in 2026.
- France has been a key proponent of strengthening Lebanese forces and proposed an international replacement for UNIFIL.
- The EU hopes to establish the mission by mid-October and deploy personnel in late 2026 or early 2027.
More than 10 European Union member states have indicated willingness to contribute resources and personnel to a planned mission aimed at advising and training Lebanon's armed forces. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that the objective is to strengthen the Lebanese state's ability to provide security across its territory, which would allow the Lebanese army to focus on disarming the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.
The proposed mission comes as the mandate for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is set to expire at the end of 2026, with a year-long drawdown and withdrawal expected. Kallas clarified that the EU mission is not intended to replace UNIFIL. Planning for the mission is reportedly progressing well, with an aim to establish it in mid-October and deploy personnel in late 2026 or early 2027.
France has been actively working to organize an international conference to bolster the Lebanese armed forces and had previously proposed an international force to succeed UNIFIL. However, a senior Western diplomat suggested that significant decisions regarding Lebanon's future might be delayed until after Israel's election in late October, and progress would likely require a clear strengthening of the Lebanese armed forces.