The leaders of France, Lebanon and Jordan met in Paris to discuss international support for the cash-strapped Lebanese army and the creation of a new force to succeed a longstanding UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.
France and Italy have said they want to set up a multinational coalition to succeed UNIFIL. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told AFP this week that Lebanon wanted a new force, European or otherwise, to prevent a security vacuum after the UN peacekeepers leave south Lebanon.
The French presidency said the aim of the Paris talks was to review a Lebanese armed forces deployment plan based on a “clear, credible and realistic” framework. The Lebanese president has also called on Europeans, Americans and Arab nations to support the Lebanese army.
