Security talks focused on replacing UN mission in Lebanon begin in Paris
The leaders of France, Lebanon and Jordan meet in Paris to discuss international support for the cash-strapped Lebanese army and the creation of a new force to succeed a longstanding UN mission in southern Lebanon.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and King Abdullah II of Jordan. They are to be joined later by senior military officials from their countries and partner nations, such as Britain and the United States, for further discussions.
The talks come as the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) ends this year after almost half a century of operations dating back to 1978.
France and Italy have said they want to set up a multinational coalition to succeed UNIFIL.
The French presidency says the aim of the Paris talks is to review a Lebanese Armed Forces deployment plan based on a “clear, credible and realistic” framework.
Paris says it wants the “operational context, parameters and modalities” of the deployment to be clarified at today’s discussions as a prerequisite for what it hopes will be “robust” international support, whether in the form of financial assistance, equipment or training.
The poorly equipped Lebanese forces have struggled to carry out their mission of disarming Hezbollah in the south. The disarmament is a key condition for Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
More from today’s Liveblog:
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
— Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist
Support our work
Support our work
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this