Paris – French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Wednesday called on European countries to help support security and stability in Lebanon. His remarks come amid concerns about a potential security vacuum when the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission ends later this year.
According to the French News Agency, Lecornu told the National Assembly that Paris is currently developing a new plan. This proposal includes military options and an alternative delegation mechanism. It aims to enable the formation of a separation force to maintain stability in southern Lebanon and prevent a security gap.
He explained that the French plan involves creating a force of between 2,000 and 5,500 personnel, in coordination with European partners. He urged European countries to take a greater role on the ground and contribute directly to efforts to maintain Lebanese security.
On the humanitarian front, Lecornu announced that France intends to increase its humanitarian aid to Lebanon by two to three times in the coming weeks. He also called on Israel to end its war on Lebanon and to withdraw from what he described as “illegal occupation.”
These French initiatives come at a time when UN Secretary-General António Guterres has recommended keeping UN forces in the region. Italy, France, and Spain—three of the main contributors to UNIFIL—have also expressed support for the continued presence of international forces in Lebanon to help preserve regional security and stability.