The French Foreign Ministry confirmed it is preparing to deploy forces to replace the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, according to the ministry's statement. Paris said it is rallying regional and European support for the force, while accusing Hezbollah of destabilizing the country.
France confirmed early Saturday that it intends to deploy a multinational force to replace the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, the French Foreign Ministry announced. The ministry said Paris is rallying regional and European support for a new deployment, emphasizing the importance of Lebanon's stability and the strengthening of its national army. According to the statement, France accused Hezbollah of undermining stability in Lebanon and noted progress in talks regarding the proposed force.
The announcement follows weeks of diplomatic activity surrounding Lebanon's post-ceasefire arrangements. As The Zioneer previously reported (June 18), European diplomats had been preparing a concrete role in Lebanon after the ceasefire, with discussions about ending the UNIFIL mission and supporting the Lebanese army. The French move reflects mounting European concern over Hezbollah's continued military presence and influence in southern Lebanon, despite ceasefire commitments.
No details were provided on the size, composition, or deployment timeline of the proposed replacement force. The relationship between this force and the existing UNIFIL mandate, as well as the positions of other key actors (Israel, the U.S., Hezbollah itself) toward the initiative, remain unconfirmed at this stage.
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