Key facts
- European and Arab military chiefs are meeting in Paris on Thursday to discuss the Lebanese Armed Forces' needs and the potential end of a UN peacekeeping mission.
- The meeting aims to assess requirements ahead of a donor conference likely in late 2026 or early 2027.
- Officials will explore options for new international missions, including a France-Italy backed mission or an EU-led mission, operating outside a UN mandate.
- The U.S. will be represented by a senior military official involved in Middle East security issues.
- Fears of a renewed Israeli military campaign are growing in Lebanon after escalating strikes.
- Israeli strikes on a town in southern Lebanon killed at least 13 people on Monday.
Military leaders from Europe and Arab nations are gathering in Paris on Thursday to deliberate on the future security landscape in Lebanon, particularly in light of the impending conclusion of a United Nations peacekeeping mission. The discussions are crucial as they aim to assess the needs of the Lebanese Armed Forces and explore alternative international support mechanisms.
This meeting comes at a time of heightened concern over potential escalations of Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon. Recent Israeli strikes on a town in the region resulted in at least 13 fatalities, including six children, marking one of the deadliest incidents in recent weeks. Despite a June ceasefire intended to halt hostilities between the Israeli military and Hezbollah, fears of a renewed campaign persist.
Officials at the Paris talks are focused on identifying the precise military and financial requirements for the Lebanese Armed Forces, in preparation for a donor conference anticipated in late 2026 or early 2027. A key immediate challenge is addressing the potential security vacuum that could emerge when the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), comprising approximately 7,500 personnel, begins its drawdown in January. While Lebanon and France advocate for an extension of the UN mandate, neither the United States nor Israel has publicly supported prolonging the mission.
Consequently, the discussions are exploring new frameworks for international engagement, including a mission backed by France and Italy that would operate independently of a UN mandate, or a European Union-led initiative. These proposed missions would concentrate on providing training, equipment, intelligence sharing, and mentoring to the Lebanese Armed Forces. However, a French presidency official noted that the specifics of such multinational actions are still to be defined, citing the need to align with U.S. demands at the Security Council and to clearly calibrate the mandate and terms of presence.