French President Emmanuel Macron has announced his support for a conference to be hosted by Saudi Arabia in support of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), as the LAF prepares for the contentious mission to disarm Hezbollah.
Macron’s Pledge at UN General Assembly
„Lebanon will breathe easier when Hezbollah is weaker and the rest of Lebanon will breathe even better when all of the arms held by Hezbollah are back in the force, in the hands of the Lebanese Armed Forces, there’s no other choice,” Macron stated during his address to the United Nations General Assembly last week.
Meeting Details Emerge
While Macron did not provide specifics about the Saudi-hosted conference, a French source indicated that the meeting is expected to take place before the end of 2025. The gathering will bring together various countries, including Gulf and Arab states, European nations, commonwealth countries, and the United States.
France’s Commitment to Arming the LAF
According to a French source interviewed by Breaking Defense on Friday, „France has no taboos when it comes to arming [the] LAF, even if the needed capabilities are radars for air defense systems.”
The source emphasized that the conference aims to equip the LAF to effectively perform its duties, particularly as the mandate for the international peacekeeping force UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon) is set to expire in a year after nearly a half-century of presence in southern Lebanon. The conference is also expected to provide aid to Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces, with the goal of reducing the operational burden on the LAF.
A „Gamechanger” in Saudi-Lebanese Relations
The fact that France expects the meeting to be held in Saudi Arabia signals a potential turning point in relations between Beirut and Riyadh, which have been strained in recent years. In 2016, Saudi Arabia canceled a $3 billion military aid package to the LAF after Lebanon did not condemn an attack on the Saudi diplomatic mission in Iran.
Past Support for the LAF
France has previously supported international efforts to aid the LAF. In October 2024, France hosted a conference that raised $200 million to support the LAF, providing troop transportation equipment, heavy machinery, and engineering, demining, and training equipment.
US Security Package
Earlier this month, the US Department of Defense announced a $14.2 million security package for the LAF to assist in its mission to disarm Hezbollah. The package includes explosives and support equipment for dismantling Hezbollah weapons caches and military infrastructure.
Hezbollah’s Stance on Disarmament
The task of disarming Hezbollah is expected to be challenging, as the group has stated that it will not willingly relinquish its arms. In a recent interview with Reuters, Jawad Nasrallah, the son of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, reiterated the group’s position, stating, „Never in your fantasies or dreams.”
