EU foreign ministers approve a three-year military and civilian mission in Lebanon

The decision

Foreign ministers of the European Union's member states approved the creation of a new mission for Lebanon at their Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, 12 October. The EU Support Mission Lebanon (EUSM Lebanon) is meant to strengthen the capacities of the Lebanese armed forces and internal security forces, with the aim of improving border control and the country's stability. The Council describes the mission as part of the Common Security and Defence Policy and gives it an initial mandate of three years. According to EU diplomats, Germany intends to take part, but the size of its contribution is not yet known.

Mandate and structure

The military component will advise and train the Lebanese army on land border surveillance and control, maritime security, intelligence, reconnaissance, counter-smuggling and operational coordination. The civilian component will train internal security forces in areas such as cybercrime and smuggling, and will help improve security at port facilities, including the port of Beirut. Le Soir reports a target strength of about 150 personnel. Kaja Kallas said the mission will advise and assist the Lebanese armed forces and internal security forces to reinforce territorial control, border security and internal security. Sources differ on timing: Kallas estimated the mission could be operational within two months, while one report says it is due to start next year.

Context: UNIFIL and Hezbollah

The UN force UNIFIL has been deployed since 1978 to monitor the border zone between Israel and Lebanon. Le Soir reports it has about 7,500 members from nearly 50 countries and that its mandate expires on 31 December 2026, while Europa Press refers to a withdrawal planned for 2027. The EU supports extending UNIFIL's mandate, and the new mission is not intended to replace it. Hezbollah continues to reject disarmament, and implementation of the Lebanese government's stated goal of bringing weapons under state control has moved only slowly. Israel has said it will pull its troops out of southern Lebanon only once disarmament is carried out. Lebanon and Israel concluded a framework agreement in June under US auspices, which provides for a gradual Israeli withdrawal conditional on Hezbollah's disarmament. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam had earlier warned of a possible security vacuum after the UN troops leave.

Fighting continues

Eldiario reports that Israel has maintained an offensive in southern Lebanon and bombings of Beirut since 2 March, in the context of the Middle East conflict that Israel began together with the United States with strikes on Iran. Citing the UN, the same report says the fighting has killed more than 4,000 people and displaced more than one million. Israel's chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, approved the army continuing operations in occupied southern Lebanon despite the framework agreement, and Israeli bombings continued through September. In late August the Israeli army confirmed the death of a second senior Hezbollah commander in strikes that killed at least eleven people, including the family of a unit commander, three of them children. During a visit to Beirut in early October, Kallas called for the disarmament of Hezbollah, saying Lebanon must have full control of its territory.

What happens next

The mission still has to be set up, and the size of Germany's contribution has not been announced. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot welcomed the adoption of the principle of a mission supporting Lebanon's internal security forces and armed forces. France and Italy had previously announced plans for a multinational coalition to follow the UN force's mandate, aimed at reinforcing Lebanon's sovereignty. The key dates to watch are the start of the EU mission and the end of UNIFIL's mandate at the close of 2026.