Lebanon, France, Jordan leaders meet in Paris to bolster Lebanese army

Leaders from Lebanon, France, and Jordan convened in Paris on September 17 to prepare for an international donor conference aimed at bolstering Lebanon's cash-strapped military, amid growing concerns over a security vacuum as the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon nears its expiration. The meeting at Les Invalides brought together Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Jordan's King Abdullah II. They were later joined by military commanders and senior officers from 17 countries and organizations for a technical-military session. The talks focused on plans for an international presence in southern Lebanon after the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expires at the end of 2026. The gathering is a key step toward rescheduling a donor conference for the Lebanese Armed Forces that was originally planned for February but was postponed due to the Iran war and the latest round of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. The conference is now expected to be held in late 2026 or early 2027.