BRUSSELS, 02 Sept. - (ANA) - More ​than ​10 EU states ⁠are willing ​to contribute resources and ⁠people to a new military and civilian mission ⁠to advise and ​train Lebanese ⁠forces after UN peacekeepers withdraw this year, ‌the bloc's foreign ​policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said on Tuesday.

 

The mission would aim to strengthen Lebanon's Internal Security Forces to help free up the Lebanese army to focus on disarming the ​Iran-backed armed ‌group Hezbollah.

 

“Planning is progressing well, and we aim for the [European] Council decision to launch in October,” Ms Kallas said after a meeting of EU defence ministers in Ireland.

 

Irish Foreign and Defence Minister Helen McEntee said it was important not to leave a void after the UN Interim Force leaves Lebanon by December 31. The US vetoed the renewal of Unifil's mandate last year after almost 50 years of presence in southern Lebanon.

 

“We do not want to allow a gap to exist where we know there needs to be a continued presence. It’s really important that we can reach an agreement soon,” Ms McEntee said.

 

With 274 military personnel in Unifil, Ireland is among the leading contributors to the force of more than 7,000 peacekeepers from 46 countries.

 

The aim is not to replace the Unifil mission, Ms Kallas said, but to help Lebanese security forces “establish order” and support “border and maritime security”.  - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/02 September 2026 - - -