Israel expected to oppose Macron plan for European force to replace UNIFIL, source tells 'Post'
The French initiative is moving forward as Macron confronts growing political, economic, and social turmoil at home.
French President Emmanuel Macron is planning to propose a new European military force in southern Lebanon to replace the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission, according to a diplomatic source. However, Israel is expected to oppose this initiative, while Italy is reportedly reluctant to contribute troops. The United States is exploring the possibility of a civilian alternative.
This proposal arises as Macron faces political turmoil at home, with widespread protests over economic issues. US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ambassador Mike Waltz, have stressed that a replacement for UNIFIL does not necessarily have to be a military mission, emphasizing the need for an agreement from both Israel and Lebanon to ensure a credible verification mechanism.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
