Lebanese President Welcomes France's Intention to Organize an International Conference to Support His Country's Army

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed on Friday France's announcement of its intention to organize an international conference to support the Lebanese army in February 2026.

On Thursday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian stated in a post on the American platform "X" that "France, the United States, and Saudi Arabia will hold an international conference in February 2026 aimed at supporting the Lebanese army," without specifying the location or exact date.

In a statement, Aoun expressed his appreciation for this "initiative that comes at a time when Lebanon needs the support of the international community to strengthen its security and defense institutions."

He added that the Lebanese army and internal security forces represent the "fundamental guarantee" for the country's security, stability, and sovereignty.

He described support for the army and security forces as "an investment in Lebanon's stability and future, and in its ability to extend its sovereignty over its entire territory and protect its borders."

Aoun expressed Lebanon's hopes for broad international cooperation at the planned conference next February, in order to "provide the necessary support to modernize the capabilities of the army and security agencies and enhance their readiness."

He confirmed his country's commitment to utilizing this support "with the utmost transparency and responsibility, to build strong and modern security and defense institutions capable of protecting Lebanon and contributing to the maintenance of security and stability."

Minister Le Drian's statement on Thursday followed extensive talks in Paris that brought together French, Saudi, and American officials with Lebanese Army Commander General Rudolf Akl, addressing the issue of confining weapons to the Lebanese state.

Israel doubts the Lebanese army's efforts to disarm Hezbollah, which refuses to comply with the government plan to confine weapons to the state.

At the end of 2024, Tel Aviv and Beirut reached a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that ended an Israeli aggression against Lebanon that began in October 2023, before escalating into a full-scale war in September 2024.

Since then, Israel has violated the agreement thousands of times, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries, while continuing to occupy five Lebanese hills it had controlled during the war.

With growing fears of the ceasefire collapsing, the Paris meeting sought to create conditions for the disarmament of Hezbollah, support and verify it, as well as to deter Israeli escalation, according to French media.

Paris considers strengthening the capabilities of the Lebanese army, which suffers from limited resources, as a key element in achieving the confinement of weapons to the state.