The President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, and the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, will meet in Paris on Thursday to discuss the replacement of the United Nations Interim Force in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL). This meeting will be hosted by Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, and will include a technical gathering of high-ranking military officials, including representatives from the U.S. military.
Purpose of the Meeting and Its Implications
This meeting has been described as a practical and focused gathering aimed at providing the best possible support for a clear, credible, and realistic plan for the deployment of the Lebanese army throughout the country. The withdrawal of UNIFIL under pressure from the United States and Israel has raised concerns in Lebanon and Europe that it may worsen the security situation in the region.
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Israel currently occupies about 700 square kilometers of Lebanese territory and insists that the Lebanese army must disarm Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group. Beirut officials argue that Israel's occupation and ongoing bombardments throughout the country weaken state institutions, including the army.
Italy and France's Role in UNIFIL Replacement
Italy and France play a key role in preparing for the replacement of UNIFIL, and it is estimated that 10 European Union countries are ready to assist and train the Lebanese army in a new military and civilian mission. Discussions with representatives from Israel and the United States are expected at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York next week.
Jean-Yves Le Drian, Macron's special representative for Lebanon, previously stated that strengthening the army is essential to ensure that Hezbollah surrenders its weapons. Hezbollah emerged as a militia in the early 1980s in response to Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon. Israel withdrew from Lebanon in 2000 after 18 years under pressure from Hezbollah's guerrilla tactics. Hezbollah, which also operates as a political party, was the only militia allowed to retain its weapons at the end of the civil war in 1990, justifying its continued resistance against Israel.
Over five decades of operation, UNIFIL, which includes thousands of peacekeeping forces from various countries, has played a monitoring role and recorded ceasefire violations by both Israel and Hezbollah. These forces have faced pressure from both sides and have lost several personnel during conflicts this year.
Macron's advisor stated that Washington must be included in the UNIFIL replacement plan, which may take the form of a new multinational mission led by the United Nations. This advisor mentioned that negotiations with the Italians – the largest troop contributors to UNIFIL – are ongoing to redefine how an international mission could be structured. This is something Lebanese officials are seeking to prevent a security vacuum in southern Lebanon.
When this meeting takes place in Paris, it will be conducted under a well-known framework called the "Aqaba Format," an initiative created in 2015 by King Abdullah to enhance regional military and security cooperation. France, as a former colonial power in the region, has held several conferences over the past decades to support Lebanon, but does not participate in U.S.-mediated Lebanon-Israel negotiations.
Macron's advisor emphasized that Thursday's gathering will be different, stating: "This will not just be another conference to support the army or Lebanon. This will be a very ambitious conference built on a clear operational plan for the Lebanese army, aimed at ensuring the exercise of state authority throughout the country.
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