French President Emmanuel Macron and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun have discussed efforts to strengthen Lebanon’s armed forces and bring an end to continuing Israeli attacks, as regional leaders seek a new security arrangement for southern Lebanon.
Macron and Aoun held talks in Paris on Thursday alongside Jordan’s King Abdullah II, as part of a new meeting of the Aqaba Process focused on international support for the Lebanese Armed Forces.
The discussions come at a critical moment for Lebanon, with the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, due to expire at the end of 2026 after almost five decades of operations in the country. France and Italy have proposed a multinational arrangement that could take over some of the peacekeeping mission’s functions.
According to the Lebanese presidency, Macron and Aoun discussed efforts to stop Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory in light of ongoing Lebanese-American-Israeli negotiations and a US-backed framework agreement reached in June.
The two leaders also examined proposals concerning the future of an international presence in southern Lebanon once UNIFIL’s mandate ends.
Aoun has called for an international force to help prevent a security vacuum after the UN peacekeepers leave. He has also repeatedly maintained that the Lebanese state should have a monopoly over weapons and that the Lebanese army should be responsible for protecting the country’s sovereignty.
Macron backs Lebanese army
Macron described the Lebanese Armed Forces as essential to restoring the authority of the Lebanese state across its territory.
The French president said the Paris discussions were aimed at strengthening Lebanon’s sovereignty and security, which he described as important to stability across the wider Middle East.
The French presidency said the meeting would examine a Lebanese army deployment plan based on what it described as a “clear, credible and realistic” framework.
Paris is seeking such a framework before committing to stronger international assistance, potentially including financial support, military equipment and training for Lebanese security institutions.
Aoun, for his part, said strengthening the army was a Lebanese decision rather than an externally imposed demand.
The Lebanese president also expressed appreciation for France’s support and said the army remained the main institution responsible for protecting Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability.
Israeli attacks remain a major concern
The diplomatic discussions are taking place against a backdrop of continuing Israeli military activity in Lebanon.
A US-sponsored framework agreement reached in June was intended to provide for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, the deployment of Lebanese troops and the disarmament of armed groups, including Hezbollah.
However, implementation has stalled, while Israeli attacks have continued.
The Lebanese presidency said Aoun raised the issue directly with Macron during their bilateral meeting, including efforts to end attacks on Lebanese villages and towns.
Israel has maintained a military presence in parts of southern Lebanon, which it describes as a security zone. The continuing presence has become one of the major obstacles to the implementation of the June framework.
At the same time, Hezbollah’s disarmament remains a central issue in discussions about Lebanon’s future security arrangements. Aoun has said he wants the Lebanese state to control all weapons but has also ruled out resolving the issue through internal confrontation.
UNIFIL’s future
UNIFIL has operated in southern Lebanon since 1978 and currently has just under 7,500 peacekeepers from 46 countries.
The UN Security Council decided last year that its mandate would end on December 31, 2026. France and Italy have subsequently explored the possibility of creating a multinational force to prevent a security vacuum in southern Lebanon.
European and Arab officials are therefore examining how an international presence could support the Lebanese army after UNIFIL’s departure.
The Paris meeting brought together senior defence officials from Lebanon, France, Jordan, Britain and Italy, with senior US and Saudi officials also participating, according to a French military source cited by AFP.
Aoun has argued that Lebanon needs a new international force, whether European-led or involving a broader coalition, to help maintain stability once UNIFIL leaves.
The proposed arrangement would work alongside Lebanese forces rather than replace them, with discussions focusing on training, equipment, intelligence and other forms of support.
Wider regional implications
The Paris talks are unfolding amid a wider Middle East crisis that has repeatedly drawn Lebanon into regional conflicts.
Lebanon is still recovering from years of economic crisis and previous wars, while its military faces severe financial and logistical constraints.
The country’s leadership is seeking greater international assistance as it attempts to expand state control over territory and security while avoiding another confrontation with Hezbollah.
For France, which has longstanding political and historical ties with Lebanon, strengthening the Lebanese state is also part of a broader effort to promote stability in the region.
The Paris meeting therefore combines three immediate challenges: supporting the Lebanese army, determining what replaces UNIFIL after its mandate expires, and finding a diplomatic mechanism capable of reducing Israeli-Lebanese tensions.
Whether those efforts produce a durable security arrangement will depend largely on the implementation of the June framework, the future of Hezbollah’s weapons and the willingness of Israel, Lebanon and their international partners to reach agreement on southern Lebanon’s security.
