European, Arab military leaders meet in Paris to discuss Lebanese army support, UNIFIL future

Military leaders from European and Arab countries are meeting in Paris on Thursday to assess the needs of the Lebanese Armed Forces and discuss the future of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL), amid growing concerns over a possible renewed Israeli military campaign in the south of the country.

The talks come as tensions persist along the Lebanese-Israeli border, with Israel and Lebanon having held several rounds of US-mediated negotiations aimed at de-escalation. However, diplomats have indicated that prospects for significant progress remain slim, given upcoming elections in both Israel and the United States in the coming weeks.

French leadership, Arab and US participation

French President Emmanuel Macron is chairing the opening session of the meeting, joined by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Jordan's King Abdullah II, outside the formal framework of US-led efforts. The United States is represented by a senior military official specializing in Middle East security issues.

Framework agreement and military needs assessment

In the context of previous US-mediated talks, Israel and Lebanon reached a framework agreement providing for the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon in exchange for Lebanese authorities committing to disarm Hezbollah and deploy their own forces in the southern region.

Diplomats noted that the Paris meeting aims to conduct a detailed assessment of the Lebanese army's military and financial needs, in preparation for a donor conference expected to be held in late 2026 or early 2027.