EU plans mission to train Lebanese army

The European Union is planning a mission to advise and train Lebanon's armed forces, including on border and maritime security, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said after the bloc's defence ministers met in Ireland on Tuesday.

Kallas said planning was progressing well and that about 10 countries had expressed interest in taking part. She said the EU hoped to reach a formal decision to launch the mission in October.

“The EU is not seeking to replace UNIFIL, we are investing in Lebanon's capacity to provide security for itself,” Kallas said.

UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, has about 7,500 personnel from nearly 50 countries and has been in place since 1978. The UN Security Council decided in August last year, under US pressure, to end UNIFIL's mandate on December 31, 2026.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said peacekeepers will be needed in Lebanon after the current mandate expires. France and Italy have previously said they want to set up a multinational coalition to succeed the UN force.

Southern Lebanon has seen successive wars between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. Lebanon became embroiled in the Middle East war after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel on March 2, prompting a widespread Israeli bombing campaign and ground invasion. More than 4,300 people have been killed, though violence has decreased since a US-Iran deal and a Washington-sponsored framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel went into force.