What's happened
The EU is preparing to assist Lebanon's internal security forces ahead of UNIFIL's withdrawal in 2026. Israel continues strikes on Lebanese territory amid ongoing tensions with Hezbollah. Lebanon seeks international verification of Hezbollah's rearmament, with US and French involvement possible.
What's behind the headline?
The EU's strategy indicates a shift towards strengthening Lebanon's internal security capacity, aiming to transfer security responsibilities from the Lebanese Armed Forces to internal police units. This move aims to stabilize the region as UNIFIL prepares to withdraw, but it risks escalating tensions if verification mechanisms are not accepted. Lebanon's openness to US and French troops suggests a willingness to involve international actors, potentially complicating regional dynamics. The ongoing Israeli strikes highlight the persistent volatility, with the fragile ceasefire under strain. The upcoming EU-Lebanese meeting and Macron's envoy's roadmap signal increased diplomatic efforts, but the core challenge remains Hezbollah's disarmament and regional security stability.
What the papers say
The New Arab reports on EU's security plans and Lebanon's diplomatic efforts, emphasizing the EU's focus on advice, training, and border security. Reuters highlights the ongoing Israeli strikes and the regional security context, noting Lebanon's desire for international verification of Hezbollah's disarmament and the potential involvement of US and French troops. Both sources underscore the fragile state of the ceasefire and the strategic importance of the upcoming diplomatic meetings, with The New Arab providing detailed insights into EU's assistance plans and Reuters framing the regional security challenges.
How we got here
Since the 2024 truce, Lebanon remains fragile, with ongoing Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah's rearmament efforts. The EU has circulated a plan to support Lebanon's security forces and facilitate a transition from UNIFIL's peacekeeping role, which is set to end in 2026. Lebanon also seeks international verification of Hezbollah's disarmament, amid regional tensions following recent conflicts.
Go deeper
More on these topics
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The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, is a UN-NATO peacekeeping mission established on 19 March 1978 by United Nations Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426, to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon which Israel had invaded five day
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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The Lebanese Armed Forces or Forces Armées Libanaises in French, also known as the Lebanese Army, is the military of the Lebanese Republic. It consists of three branches, the army, the air force, and the navy. The motto of the Lebanese Armed Forces is "H
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The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. Its members have a combined area of 4,233,255.3 km² and an estimated total population of about 447 million.
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Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies west across the Mediterranean Sea.