EU decides on Lebanon mission
Quick Look
- The EU has decided on a new support mission for the Lebanese security forces, which includes advice and training.
- The aim is to stabilize the country through state control over the entire national territory.
- The operation is scheduled to start next year and will have military and civilian pillars, while the UN Unifil mission will end at the end of the year.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Hezbollah has significant influence in Lebanon and opposes disarmament. The Lebanese government seeks state control over weapons. The UN mission Unifil has been monitoring the border between Israel and Lebanon since 1978 and will end at the end of the year.
The foreign ministers of the EU states have decided to launch an operation to advise and train the security forces in Lebanon. As EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas announced after the decision, the new support mission is intended to help ensure that the security forces can exercise control over the entire Lebanese territory in the future. The aim is to ensure more stability in the country. According to EU diplomats, Germany also wants to take part in the operation. However, the exact contribution is not yet known.
To date, the armed pro-Iranian Hezbollah still exercises considerable influence in Lebanon. The Lebanese government has repeatedly committed to bringing the country's weapons under state control. However, implementation has so far only made limited progress because Hezbollah continues to reject disarmament. Israel does not want to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon until disarmament is implemented.
The new EU mission is scheduled to start next year and has a military and a civilian pillar:
According to the plans, the military pillar will be used to advise and train the Lebanese armed forces.
The civilian pillar is intended to support the other security forces with advice and specialized training, for example in combating cybercrime and smuggling. It should also promote the establishment of permanent training structures and better security administration - including in the port of Beirut.
The current UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (Unifil) ends at the end of the year. It was launched in 1978 to monitor the border area between Israel and Lebanon. After the withdrawal of the blue helmets, the Lebanese army should take control.
Warning of safety vacuum after Unifil withdrawal
With a view to the withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping mission, Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam recently warned of a possible security vacuum. Before the blue helmets can withdraw from southern Lebanon, an agreement must be reached on a new international force to replace them. That is exactly what is happening now.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The EU support mission will start operations next year.
Very likely · Within months
The UN peacekeeper mission Unifil will end at the end of the year.
Very likely · Within months
Open Questions
- How high is the exact German contribution to the EU mission?
- When exactly will the EU operation start next year?
- How will coordination between the EU mission and the Lebanese army be ensured after the Unifil withdrawal?
