European and Arab officials meet in Paris on post-UNIFIL plan for Israel-Lebanon border

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted European and Arab political and military chiefs, including Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Jordan's King Abdullah, to assess Lebanese Armed Forces needs ahead of UNIFIL's drawdown starting in January. Options discussed include a France-Italy-backed international mission outside the UN mandate or an EU-led training and support mission for the Lebanese army. A senior US official also took part; Washington and Israel oppose extending UNIFIL, calling it a failed mission.

Why this matters. The outcome determines who monitors the Israel-Lebanon border after UNIFIL's 7,500 peacekeepers withdraw, directly affecting whether the April ceasefire holds or unravels into renewed cross-border fighting.