European and Arab military chiefs will meet in Paris on Thursday to assess the needs of the Lebanese Armed Forces and discuss security arrangements ahead of the planned drawdown of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, amid growing fears of a renewed Israeli military campaign in the country’s south.
The meeting comes as tensions continue along the Israel-Lebanon border despite several rounds of US-brokered talks aimed at reducing tensions and establishing security arrangements between the two sides.
Macron, Aoun and Jordan’s King to Chair Talks
French President Emmanuel Macron will initially chair the meeting alongside Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
The talks are not formally part of Washington’s ongoing efforts to broker arrangements between Israel and Lebanon. The United States will instead be represented by a senior military official involved in Middle East security affairs.
Diplomats have expressed doubts about the prospects of a major breakthrough in the coming period, particularly with elections approaching in both Israel and the United States.
Security Arrangements After UNIFIL Drawdown
A key focus of the Paris meeting will be the future of the international security presence in southern Lebanon as the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, prepares to begin reducing its personnel from January.
UNIFIL currently has around 7,500 personnel, and its planned drawdown has raised concerns about a potential security vacuum in southern Lebanon amid continued military tensions.
Lebanon and France have supported extending the UN mission’s mandate, while neither the United States nor Israel has indicated support for prolonging the mission.
Options for a New International Mission
Officials in Paris are expected to discuss several alternatives, including a new international mission backed by France and Italy that would operate outside a formal UN mandate, as well as a possible European Union-led mission.
Both proposals would focus on strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces through training, equipment, intelligence sharing and advisory support.
A French presidency official said the structure and operating arrangements of any international or multinational presence still need to be defined, including its mandate and the conditions under which it would operate.
The discussions are also expected to take into account Lebanon’s requirements and the different positions surrounding the future role of international forces in the south.
Framework Agreement Between Israel and Lebanon
The Paris meeting comes as part of broader US-brokered talks between Israel and Lebanon, which have produced a framework agreement envisioning a gradual Israeli withdrawal alongside efforts by Lebanese authorities to disarm Hezbollah and expand the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces across the south.
Officials are expected to assess the military and financial requirements of the Lebanese army ahead of a donor conference that could be held in late 2026 or early 2027.
Escalating Strikes Raise Fears of Renewed Conflict
The talks are taking place against a backdrop of escalating tensions and growing concerns in Lebanon over the possibility of a renewed Israeli military campaign in the south.
At least 13 people, including six children, were killed on Monday in Israeli strikes on a town in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, making it one of the deadliest days of Israeli bombardment in recent weeks.
Fears of a renewed military campaign have increased after several days of intensified Israeli strikes, despite a ceasefire that took effect in June and was intended to halt fighting between the Israeli military and Hezbollah.
The continuing escalation has added urgency to international efforts to establish new security arrangements and strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces’ ability to operate across southern Lebanon.
