Paris hosts military leaders to mull post-UN mission in Lebanon

Paris will host military leaders on Thursday to discuss the future of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon and evaluate the Lebanese Armed Forces' needs as the mission nears its end. European and Arab military chiefs, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, and Jordan's King Abdullah, will attend the talks, which are not officially part of the US-led efforts.

Despite Lebanon and France favoring an extension of the UN mandate, neither the US nor Israel supports prolonging the mission. The US will be represented by a senior military official involved in Middle East security issues. Israel and Lebanon have engaged in multiple rounds of US-brokered talks aimed at reducing tensions along their border, but a breakthrough seems unlikely due to upcoming elections in both countries.

As part of the US-brokered deal, Israel and Lebanon agreed to a framework for Israeli troops to gradually withdraw while Lebanese authorities disarm Hezbollah and deploy across southern Lebanon. The immediate concern is addressing the security vacuum that will arise when the UN peacekeeping force, Unifil, with approximately 7,500 personnel, begins its drawdown in January.

Both France and Italy propose a new international mission, operating outside a UN mandate, and an EU-led mission to fill the security gap. These options would focus on training, equipment, intelligence sharing, and mentoring support for the Lebanese Armed Forces. Israeli strikes on a southern Lebanon town on Monday killed at least 13 people, including six children, raising fears of a renewed Israeli military campaign.

The situation in Lebanon remains fragile following days of escalating strikes despite a June ceasefire intended to halt fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.