Senior officials from France, Lebanon, and Jordan gathered in Paris on Thursday for multilateral discussions aimed at securing international backing for the Lebanese armed forces. French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and King Abdullah II of Jordan, with the talks focused on fortifying Lebanon’s state institutions and military capabilities.
The meetings centered on reviewing deployment plans for the Lebanese armed forces within what French officials characterized as a “clear, credible and realistic” framework. France indicated its willingness to provide robust international support through financial assistance, equipment, and training contingent upon approval of the Lebanese military’s operational strategy. Officials from the defense establishments of Lebanon, Jordan, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy participated, alongside representatives from the United States and Saudi Arabia.
A central topic involved discussions on terminating ongoing Israeli military operations in Lebanese territory. According to the Lebanese presidency, leaders addressed “efforts to put an end to Israeli attacks” in the context of a framework agreement brokered by the United States in June. That agreement, while establishing terms for Hezbollah disarmament and Israeli force withdrawal, has not resulted in a complete Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces maintain control of territory approximately 10 kilometers deep along the border.
The talks also addressed replacing the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), whose mandate concludes on December 31 of this year following nearly five decades of operations. France and Italy have proposed establishing a multinational coalition to fill the security gap, with Aoun indicating Lebanon’s preference for a new international force to prevent instability in the south.
Aoun emphasized that strengthening the Lebanese state’s authority represents a domestic priority rather than external pressure. He underscored the role of the Lebanese armed forces as essential to asserting state sovereignty and noted his commitment to Hezbollah disarmament without military confrontation. Regional tensions remain elevated despite the June agreement, with escalating Israeli military activities raising concerns about potential renewed conflict.
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