EU to Launch Security Mission to Support Lebanese Army

The European Union is preparing to launch a non-executive security mission in Lebanon by the end of the year, aimed at supporting the Lebanese army and internal security forces, according to an internal European document.

The mission, overseen by the European External Action Service, will focus on providing advice and training to Lebanon’s armed forces and security agencies.

Its mandate will prioritize maintaining internal security and strengthening border control along Lebanon’s frontier with Syria. The document stresses that the mission will not engage in combat operations, disarmament activities, or the monitoring of any ceasefire arrangements with Israel.

European experts are expected to arrive in Lebanon in January to assess operational needs on the ground ahead of the mission’s formal launch. The move comes as the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL, is set to expire at the end of 2026, amid growing speculation that it may not be renewed.

However, EU officials have emphasized that the planned mission will be limited in scope and size and is not intended to replace the role of the United Nations. Instead, it is designed to complement existing international support efforts by strengthening Lebanon’s security institutions at a time of mounting regional and domestic challenges.