General Rudolf Heikal, the Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces, met with French Chief of Defence Staff Fabien Mandon on Thursday to discuss strategic security challenges as international powers move to formalise a mechanism for disarming Hezbollah. The meeting in Paris, attended by representatives from France, the United States, and Saudi Arabia, aimed to finalise a roadmap to verify the disarmament of the Iran-backed group. The talks follow a November 2024 ceasefire that has come under increasing strain, with diplomatic sources warning of a potential return to full-scale hostilities.
"The French and Lebanese armies maintain a historic cooperation manifested in the fields of training, capabilities, and joint exercises," Mandon said in a statement on X. He added that the French presence alongside the Lebanese military aims to maintain "stability and lasting peace, while respecting Lebanon's sovereignty." Diplomats and officials said the trilateral meeting was designed to reinforce the existing ceasefire monitoring committee with international military experts from the U.S. and France. This "second mechanism" would provide the verification and technical support the Lebanese military currently lacks to oversee the re-establishment of a state monopoly on weapons. Heikal, who was appointed army chief in March 2025 following the election of Joseph Aoun as President of Lebanon, briefed officials on the military's phased plan to collect weapons, which began in the south Litani region. A French Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed that all parties have agreed to hold a major international conference in February 2025 to provide further financial and logistical support to the Lebanese army. The diplomatic push coincides with a surge in violence on the ground. On Thursday, the Israeli military launched a series of air strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon, including the Nabatieh district and the Bekaa Valley, targeting what it described as Hezbollah infrastructure. The intensification of strikes has raised fears that the ceasefire could collapse before a January deadline for full implementation. General Heikal is expected to detail the army's border control operations and its commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701 during the ongoing sessions.
