Daijiworld Media Network - Beirut
Beirut , Sep 17: The heads of state of Lebanon, France and Jordan will meet in Paris on Thursday to discuss international support for Lebanon’s struggling military and prepare the ground for a donor conference.
The donor conference, initially planned for February under the leadership of France, Saudi Arabia and the United States, was postponed following the outbreak of the Iran war and the latest round of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Lebanese army is currently caught between Israeli forces, which continue to occupy parts of southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah, which has rejected calls to surrender its weapons.
In June, Lebanon and Israel announced a framework agreement under which Israel would gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon, with the Lebanese army taking control of the area and Hezbollah being disarmed. However, implementation of the agreement has stalled.
Thursday’s Paris meeting will focus on preparations for the donor conference, the situation in southern Lebanon and plans for an international presence after the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping force UNIFIL expires at the end of the year, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s office said.
Hezbollah was severely weakened during the war that ended in November 2024. Lebanon subsequently elected Aoun as president and Nawaf Salam as prime minister, with both committing to disarming Hezbollah and other non-state armed groups.
Israel and the United States have criticised Lebanon for not taking direct military action to force Hezbollah to disarm. Lebanese officials, however, have warned that a confrontation between the army and Hezbollah could escalate into a civil war.
The Lebanese government has also said the army needs greater resources and better equipment to deploy across the country and strengthen confidence among communities that question its ability to provide security.
Lebanon’s military has long depended heavily on international assistance, particularly from the United States, United Kingdom, France and Italy. Saudi Arabia had pledged USD 3 billion in 2013 to support the Lebanese army through French weapons purchases, but suspended the aid in 2016 amid growing Hezbollah influence and worsening ties between Beirut and Riyadh.
The country’s financial crisis, which began in late 2019, has further weakened the military. Many soldiers have left the service or taken second jobs as inflation and shrinking state budgets have eroded salaries and benefits.