Military leaders from Europe and the Arab world are convening in Paris to strategize on security arrangements for Lebanon following the anticipated conclusion of a United Nations peacekeeping mission. The meeting aims to assess the Lebanese Armed Forces' needs and address concerns over a potential security vacuum amid fears of renewed Israeli military action in southern Lebanon.
The summit, scheduled for Thursday, will include French President Emmanuel Macron, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, and Jordan's King Abdullah. While not formally part of U.S.-led negotiations, Washington will be represented by a senior military official specializing in Middle East security. U.S.-brokered talks between Israel and Lebanon have previously established a framework for an Israeli troop withdrawal contingent on Lebanese authorities disarming Hezbollah and deploying forces across southern Lebanon. However, with upcoming elections in the U.S. and Israel, diplomatic sources indicate that a significant breakthrough in these negotiations is unlikely.
Officials in Paris intend to detail the specific military and financial requirements necessary for a potential donor conference, which is projected to occur in late 2026 or early 2027. A primary focus of the discussions is the impending drawdown of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), comprising approximately 7,500 personnel, which is slated to begin in January. The objective is to establish mechanisms to fill the security gap that UNIFIL's departure may create.
Despite expressed preferences from Lebanon and France for an extension of the UN mandate, neither the United States nor Israel has indicated support for prolonging UNIFIL's mission. Consequently, the Paris meeting will explore alternative security frameworks. These include proposals for a new international mission, potentially spearheaded by France and Italy, operating independently of the UN framework, as well as a possible European Union-led initiative. Such missions would likely concentrate on providing training, equipment, intelligence sharing, and advisory support to the Lebanese Armed Forces.
A French presidency official noted that the precise details and mandates for any new international or multinational action are yet to be defined. This ambiguity stems partly from Lebanese requests not fully aligning with U.S. demands at the UN Security Council and the necessity to clearly calibrate the terms and scope of any future presence. The urgency of the situation is underscored by recent Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, which resulted in at least 13 fatalities, including six children, on Monday, marking one of the deadliest days of bombardment in recent weeks. These escalations have fueled concerns of a wider Israeli military campaign, despite a June ceasefire agreement.
