Aoun and King Abdullah to meet in Paris as France leads Unifil replacement drive

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Jordan's King Abdullah II are set to meet in Paris on Thursday, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, to advance discussions on replacing the UN interim force in south Lebanon (UNIFIL). This technical meeting, attended by military officials from the US, Lebanon, Jordan, the UK, and France, aims to devise a plan to deploy the Lebanese Army across the territory.

The departure of UNIFIL under US and Israeli pressure has raised security concerns in Lebanon and Europe, as Israel now occupies approximately 700 square kilometers of Lebanese territory and insists on the disarming of Iran-backed militia Hezbollah. Italy and France are leading efforts to replace UNIFIL, with several EU nations prepared to contribute to a new military and civilian mission to train the Lebanese Armed Forces.

Discussions with Israeli and US representatives are anticipated at the UN General Assembly in New York next week. French special envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian emphasized the importance of strengthening the Lebanese army, stating that it cannot be asked to disarm Hezbollah if it lacks the means to command respect. The meeting, under the Aqaba format, seeks to develop a clear operational plan for the Lebanese Army, ensuring state authority is exercised nationwide.