Saudi Arabia, France and United States Unite to Prevent Renewed War in Lebanon and Bolster National Army
Senior diplomats convene in Paris to forge a roadmap for disarming Hezbollah and reinforcing Lebanon’s armed forces amid fragile ceasefire tensions
Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, France and the United States have intensified diplomatic efforts to avert a resumption of full-scale conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon by supporting a coordinated strategy to strengthen the Lebanese army and implement disarmament commitments.
The three countries held talks in Paris with the Lebanese army commander to finalise a roadmap that would underpin a mechanism for consolidating weapons under state control and reducing the influence of the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia, following a ceasefire that ended prolonged hostilities in late 2024.
The discussions come as the Lebanese army, under the government’s “Homeland Shield” initiative, nears completion of the first phase of disarmament operations south of the Litani River, a key condition of the ceasefire arrangement that also envisages expanding this effort northward.
Saudi, French and U.S. representatives aim to formalise a monitoring and support framework involving international military experts and possibly United Nations peacekeepers to verify the collection of arms and reduce the risk of escalation along the border.
Tensions persist, with Israel conducting airstrikes on Hezbollah positions and Lebanese territory, and both sides regularly accusing each other of truce violations.
The talks in Paris reflect mounting international concern that an unfinished disarmament process could unravel the fragile ceasefire and drag the region back into larger conflict.
To buttress Lebanon’s capacity to manage its own security, the three partners are also exploring plans to convene a future conference to galvanise broader support for the Lebanese Armed Forces and to promote economic reconstruction, particularly in war-damaged areas.
The coordinated diplomatic push underscores shared objectives among Riyadh, Paris and Washington to stabilise Lebanon, deter renewed hostilities and foster stronger state institutions capable of maintaining sovereignty and preventing militia dominance.
By aligning political, military and technical support, the three governments hope to mitigate the risk of renewed warfare and create conditions for a longer-term peaceful settlement, even as domestic and regional pressures continue to challenge the implementation of ceasefire commitments.
The three countries held talks in Paris with the Lebanese army commander to finalise a roadmap that would underpin a mechanism for consolidating weapons under state control and reducing the influence of the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia, following a ceasefire that ended prolonged hostilities in late 2024.
The discussions come as the Lebanese army, under the government’s “Homeland Shield” initiative, nears completion of the first phase of disarmament operations south of the Litani River, a key condition of the ceasefire arrangement that also envisages expanding this effort northward.
Saudi, French and U.S. representatives aim to formalise a monitoring and support framework involving international military experts and possibly United Nations peacekeepers to verify the collection of arms and reduce the risk of escalation along the border.
Tensions persist, with Israel conducting airstrikes on Hezbollah positions and Lebanese territory, and both sides regularly accusing each other of truce violations.
The talks in Paris reflect mounting international concern that an unfinished disarmament process could unravel the fragile ceasefire and drag the region back into larger conflict.
To buttress Lebanon’s capacity to manage its own security, the three partners are also exploring plans to convene a future conference to galvanise broader support for the Lebanese Armed Forces and to promote economic reconstruction, particularly in war-damaged areas.
The coordinated diplomatic push underscores shared objectives among Riyadh, Paris and Washington to stabilise Lebanon, deter renewed hostilities and foster stronger state institutions capable of maintaining sovereignty and preventing militia dominance.
By aligning political, military and technical support, the three governments hope to mitigate the risk of renewed warfare and create conditions for a longer-term peaceful settlement, even as domestic and regional pressures continue to challenge the implementation of ceasefire commitments.
