Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in Beirut on Saturday to discuss security arrangements for the country’s southern border. Their talks centered on the status of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), following a decision by the UN Security Council in August 2025 to terminate the mission’s mandate on 31 December 2026. President Aoun claimed that an unnamed party "has not complied with the provisions of the framework agreement." He told the French official, "if this proves impossible, Lebanon welcomes any arrangement that ensures an international presence in the south, prevents a vacuum, and avoids placing the Lebanese army in direct contact with the Israeli army."
Proposed Multinational Security Transition
France and Italy announced their intention to establish a multinational force to replace the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in June. Officials from both countries communicated the plan as a transition measure following the scheduled conclusion of the existing peacekeeping mandate. This initiative aims to provide a security presence in the southern region of Lebanon after the United Nations mission departs. The proposed force intends to maintain stability along the border area by filling the operational gap left by the termination of the current mission. Diplomats from France and Italy initiated discussions regarding the logistical requirements and the legal framework necessary to deploy these personnel. This transition plan remains a primary focus of ongoing international efforts to manage security arrangements within the southern territory.
Framework Agreement Implementation Challenges
Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement in June that outlines specific security conditions for the southern border region. The terms of this agreement mandate the disarmament of Hezbollah and establish a timeline for a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory.
President Joseph Aoun recently stated that Israel has not complied with the provisions of the June framework agreement. His assessment suggests that the implementation process has stalled, leaving key conditions of the security deal unfulfilled. The Lebanese government maintains that adherence to these terms is necessary to resolve the current border security concerns and stabilize the area.
A Lebanese military delegation plans to address these implementation hurdles during an upcoming meeting in Tampa, Florida. This delegation will meet with Israeli and US representatives on Tuesday to discuss the status of the agreement. The talks aim to examine the current obstacles to the disarmament and withdrawal processes stipulated in the June document.
