EU Plans New Training Mission for Lebanese Forces as UNIFIL Mandate Nears End
The EU is preparing a non-military mission to train and advise Lebanon's army and Internal Security Forces after UNIFIL's mandate expires. Kaja Kallas said the mission would support Lebanese state authority and border security without replacing UNIFIL. EU foreign ministers are expected to formally approve the plan, which has faced opposition from the US and Israel when proposed as a replacement force.
The EU's planned mission would train and advise Lebanon's army and Internal Security Forces, according to Kaja Kallas, who announced it in Beirut. She expects foreign ministers to approve it Monday. It is meant to support Lebanese state authority and border security, align with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and not replace UNIFIL or focus only on southern Lebanon.
A Lebanese ministerial source described the effort as non-military and logistical, with training plus social, health and education work. The EU has set aside €505 million for Lebanon in 2026–2027, part of a €1 billion package, and has provided €182 million to the army through the European Peace Facility since 2022.
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The proposed EU training and advisory effort could affect Lebanese soldiers, internal security personnel, and communities near borders or areas with weak state presence. If it improves coordination and logistics, residents may see somewhat stronger security and public services, while social, health, and education components could reach vulnerable groups. Its impact may depend on whether Lebanese institutions can absorb the support and whether UNIFIL's transition avoids gaps. Regional actors and EU contributors may also watch closely, but the mission's non-military design could limit immediate changes on the ground. Count: The1 proposed2 EU3 training4 and5 advisory6 effort7 could8 affect9 Lebanese10 soldiers11, internal12 security13 personnel14, and15 communities16 near17 borders18 or19 areas20 with21 weak22 state23 presence24. If25 it26 improves27 coordination28 and29 logistics30, residents31 may32 see33 somewhat34 stronger35 security36 and37 public38 services39, while40 social41, hea