Ireland, Austria and Spain have proposed a non-executive European military assistance mission to support Lebanon following the end of UNIFIL operations in the south.
Defence ministers of the European Union are examining potential European involvement in Lebanon, with Ireland, Austria and Spain proposing a non-executive military assistance mission to back the country after UNIFIL concludes its mandate. The three countries have expressed willingness to participate in such a mission.
Lebanon has been pursuing its own European engagements. President Joseph Aoun requested Greek support in Athens for stabilizing the south and implementing a framework agreement with Israel. Defence Minister Michel Mounssé travelled to Serbia to expand military cooperation.
Italy remains central to diplomatic efforts. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has been in direct contact with negotiating delegations and American intermediaries, and has discussed the situation with Lebanese, Iranian and Turkish officials. Rome is working politically and diplomatically to facilitate dialogue and is participating in discussions about arrangements for after UNIFIL, with reports of a possible Italian role in monitoring implementation of any agreement.
Washington has not yet set a date for an eighth round of talks originally announced to resume in early September. Lebanon has conditioned its participation on a halt to Israeli attacks and acceptance of its conditions.
General Joseph Clearfield, head of a U.S. military coordination group for Lebanon, continues to advance the implementation track through meetings between Beirut and Israel and monitoring of designated areas and security arrangements.
