Lebanon17 September, 20263 min read
Washington And Paris Back Lebanese Army And Internal Security Forces To Contain Weapons
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Washington and Paris align to support Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces to contain weapons. Paris organized September 17 international preparatory meeting with broad international participation.
5 outlets told this the same way.
Paris meeting and weapon containment
Washington and Paris aligned on supporting the Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces to contain weapons in Lebanon, with the international preparatory meeting organized by Paris on September 17 drawing wide international participation. Ambassador Michel Aouissa, speaking during his visit to the Higher Shia Council, welcomed efforts by anyone who cares about Lebanon’s welfare and seeks to contribute to peace, and An-Nahar said Washington would continue working closely with partners to enhance the disarmament of Hezbollah. An-Nahar also said the Paris conference was an opportunity to bring partners together, exchange ideas, and coordinate support for the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces, while Washington committed to supporting Lebanese sovereignty.
An-Nahar further described consensus between France and the United States on the importance of containing weapons in Lebanon, and it said the Lebanese state must extend its authority over all territories. The article also said international proposals were being discussed to implement the results of the Paris preparatory meeting, including holding another meeting in Paris to start structural work to support the Lebanese Army.
Aoun, Macron, and the timetable
Joseph Aoun, Emmanuel Macron, and King Abdullah II of Jordan gave the Paris September 17 gathering political weight, but Libnanews said no large financial package was announced and no definitive timetable was set for a conference to turn discussions into commitments. Libnanews said the meeting was meant to coordinate responses within the Aqaba process rather than collect contributions, and it described the gap between Paris’s political scope and its financial outcome as the real issue. Libnanews quoted King Abdullah II saying a new meeting should take place before the end of the year to review what would have been achieved, while also stating that this did not mean a financing conference with a list of contributions had been set.
SANA said Aoun met Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris and examined efforts to put an end to Israeli assaults in southern Lebanon, within the context of Lebanese-American-Israeli negotiations and the Framework Agreement. SANA added that Aoun said Lebanon wants a new force in the south after the departure of the UN blue helmets, whose mandate expires at the end of December.
UNIFIL exit, state authority, and capabilities
SadaNews said Joseph Aoun told participants in Paris that Lebanon has begun to translate the choice of the state into reality, calling on international partners to support Lebanon’s military and security institutions within the framework of a long-term partnership. SadaNews said Aoun warned that upcoming transformations in the presence of UNIFIL and its role in the south require an organized transition to avoid a security vacuum, and it stated that UNIFIL's mandate ends at the end of 2026. SadaNews described Aoun’s position that the Lebanese army is the fundamental pillar of protecting Lebanon's sovereignty and that the army is taking on growing tasks in the south, including strengthening the state's presence and fighting trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime.
SadaNews also said French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the importance of establishing the authority of the Lebanese state over its entire territory and said support for the army is crucial to replace the Israeli presence in southern Lebanon. SadaNews further reported that Jordanian King Abdullah II called for strengthening the army’s capabilities, equipping it with spare parts, and supporting the fight against drones and airspace surveillance, while insisting on restricting arms to the hands of the Lebanese state.