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France, Italy plan multinational coalition after UNIFIL withdrawal

By Drooid · Sep 17, 2026, 3:07 PM UTC · How we work

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Coalition to replace UNIFIL

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Paris on September 17 2026.
The talks stressed a credible plan for funding, equipment and training to replace UNIFIL with a multinational coalition backing the Lebanese army.
A Lebanese army deployment plan linked to Hezbollah disarmament and Israeli pull-back was reviewed.
France and Italy said they will create the multinational coalition after UNIFIL ends in 2026.

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International Training Initiative

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Paris on Thursday, September 17 2026, for security talks.
The talks highlighted civilian suffering and warned of a looming security vacuum as Israeli attacks continue and UNIFIL prepares to withdraw.
Israeli forces struck Lebanon, killing 13 people, including six children, per Lebanon’s health ministry.
France and Italy weigh an international mission to train Lebanon’s army after UNIFIL leaves.

History

Historical Context

In August 2006, Israel’s invasion of Lebanon sparked the 34-day Lebanon War, prompting UN Security Council Resolution 1701 that deployed 15,000 UNIFIL troops. The multinational force, led by France and Italy, cost roughly $1 billion annually and aimed to stabilize the south alongside the Lebanese army. Today, Macron, President Joseph Aoun, and King Abdullah II convene in Paris to replace that UNIFIL presence with a new coalition targeting Hezbollah disarmament and Israeli pull-back. If the 2026 plan succeeds, Lebanon could maintain security without foreign troops, echoing the 2006 precedent that reshaped regional defense architectures.

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Coalition to replace UNIFIL

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Paris on September 17 2026.
The talks stressed a credible plan for funding, equipment and training to replace UNIFIL with a multinational coalition backing the Lebanese army.
A Lebanese army deployment plan linked to Hezbollah disarmament and Israeli pull-back was reviewed.
France and Italy said they will create the multinational coalition after UNIFIL ends in 2026.

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