Paris became the focal point for regional security on Thursday as senior military officials from Europe and the Arab world convened to assess the Lebanese Armed Forces’ requirements and to plan for the imminent drawdown of the United Nations peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL). The meeting, chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, and Jordan’s King Abdullah, reflects growing concerns about a potential security vacuum in southern Lebanon.
U.S. Participation and the Framework Deal
The United States was represented by a senior military official who handles Middle‑East security matters. While the talks are not formally part of Washington’s diplomatic track, the U.S. presence underscores America’s continued commitment to regional stability. In parallel, Israel and Lebanon have been negotiating a framework deal that envisions a phased Israeli troop withdrawal as Lebanese authorities work to disarm Hezbollah and deploy forces across the south.
Preparing for the UN Withdrawal
UNIFIL currently fields about 7,500 peacekeepers. Its drawdown is slated to begin in January, raising urgent questions about how to fill the security gap that could emerge. French and Italian officials have floated the idea of a new international mission that would operate outside a traditional UN mandate, while the European Union is also considering a separate, EU‑led operation. Both concepts would concentrate on training, equipment, intelligence sharing, and mentorship for the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Funding and Donor Conference
Diplomats said the Paris gathering will also outline the precise military and financial needs of Lebanon ahead of a donor conference expected in late 2026 or early 2027. While Lebanon and France favor extending the UN mandate, the United States and Israel have not indicated support for prolonging UNIFIL’s presence, making the search for alternative solutions all the more critical.
Recent Violence Highlights Fragility
Recent Israeli strikes on a town in southern Lebanon killed at least 13 people, including six children, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The incident marks one of the deadliest days of Israeli bombardment in recent weeks and fuels fears of a renewed Israeli campaign despite a June cease‑fire that was meant to halt hostilities between the Israeli military and Hezbollah.
What Comes Next?
French officials emphasized that the exact modalities of any new multinational action remain undefined, noting that Lebanese requests have not yet aligned with U.S. demands at the Security Council. The meeting in Paris is therefore a crucial step toward calibrating the terms of any future presence and ensuring that any mandate is clear and limited in scope.
As the region watches the UN pullout, the outcome of these discussions will shape Lebanon’s ability to maintain security along its southern border and could set a precedent for how the international community addresses similar post‑UN missions in the future.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
