France to convene international conference backing Lebanon's army after Israeli elections

During a press briefing in Doha, President Emmanuel Macron revealed that France will host an international conference to reinforce the Lebanese armed forces, but only after Israel holds its elections. He described Lebanon’s situation as untenable, citing external pressures that threaten its sovereignty and complicate efforts to disarm Hezbollah. The conference, originally slated for March in Paris, was delayed after Hezbollah’s involvement in the regional conflict.

Macron referenced a September summit with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Jordanian King Abdallah II that laid the groundwork for broader international backing. He also stressed the need for an Israeli pull-back from the occupied southern border and the re-establishment of a coordination mechanism. France, together with Qatar, is ready to contribute to these objectives, while French officials Jean-Noël Barrot and Alice Rufo have recently discussed the future of international presence in Beirut.