Paris discusses alternative after UNIFIL exit
Military leaders and European and Arab officials are gathering in Paris to discuss the future of international presence in southern Lebanon, as the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission approaches its end in late 2026. It is anticipated that the security situation will deteriorate with the withdrawal of UNIFIL starting in January 2024, amid concerns about a security vacuum. The discussions are focused on supporting the Lebanese Army through establishing a new international mission led by the European Union or other countries, and on identifying the military and financial needs of the army, in preparation for a donor conference expected to be held at the end of 2026 or early 2027. The meeting also aims to explore alternative arrangements for the international presence due to the stalled implementation of an Israeli-Lebanese agreement that calls for a phased Israeli withdrawal in exchange for Hezbollah's disarmament, amid ongoing tensions in the region.
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