DEC 8, 2025
The bloc is said to be reviewing options of support for the Internal Security Forces, so that the Lebanese army can ‘focus on its core task’ of disarming the resistance
The EU is reviewing options to boost support for Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces (ISF) in a bid to aid Washington’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah, according to a document obtained by Reuters on 8 December.
EU efforts to support the ISF could include a “focus on advice, training, and capacity-building,” the document states. It adds that the EU will not take over the tasks of UNIFIL, which has begun a reduction of its forces ahead of the expiry of its mandate at the end of 2026.
Instead, the EU “could contribute to the gradual transfer of internal security tasks” from the Lebanese army over to the security forces in order to allow the military to focus on its “core” task – referring to the disarmament of the Lebanese resistance.
“Through a combination of advice, training, and possibly the provision of certain equipment, the overall objective would be to enable the Police and the Gendarmerie to fulfill their mandates in cities and rural areas across the country,” the document went on to say, adding that the EU could also potentially help Lebanon secure its border with Syria.
The EU will “pursue consultations with Lebanese authorities,” and “a scoping mission would take place in early 2026 on possible new assistance,” the Reuters report added.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s special envoy to Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, visited Beirut on Monday.
According to diplomatic sources cited by Reuters, he was set to propose during the visit “a roadmap that aims to assess independently Hezbollah’s disarmament.”
Under US pressure, the Lebanese government adopted a decision in August for the resistance movement’s full disarmament by the end of this year. The Lebanese army was ordered to draft a disarmament plan, which has been kept confidential.
According to reports, Lebanon’s army chief, Rudolphe Haikal, is not willing to implement the process before Israel ends its attacks on the country and withdraws its forces from the south. The army chief has also reportedly threatened to resign if he is compelled to risk a civil war by attempting to disarm Hezbollah by force.
Israel’s defense minister recently threatened that Tel Aviv will launch a new war on Lebanon if Hezbollah does not surrender its weapons by year’s end.
Hezbollah rejects the Lebanese cabinet decision issued in August, and says it is only willing to discuss its arms within the context of a national defense strategy. It stresses, however, that these talks cannot take place until Israel ends its attacks and withdraws.
Tel Aviv accuses the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) of failing to act. It has demanded LAF raids on civilian homes in the south, under the pretext that they are storing weapons.
Lebanon is also being forced into direct talks with Israel – in violation of the country’s own laws.
Dozens of Lebanese have been killed since the start of last month alone, including Hezbollah’s top military official, who was assassinated in an Israeli strike on Beirut on 23 November. The attack killed four other members of the group and injured 28 people, including women and children.
Israel has threatened to launch a major offensive against the country unless Hezbollah surrenders its weapons by the end of 2025. Washington has publicly backed Tel Aviv’s threats.
US envoy Tom Barrack has repeatedly warned Lebanon that it faces an imminent Israeli campaign if Hezbollah is not disarmed immediately.
In a change of tone, Barrack said on 5 December that Israel will not be able to achieve its goals by trying to defeat Hezbollah militarily.
“My personal opinion is: you kill one terrorist, you create 10,” he said. “That can’t be the answer. There has to be another answer.”
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