France to Discuss Support for Lebanese Army After UNIFIL End

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that France would discuss providing support to the Lebanese army, according to posts by two Al Jazeera channels on Telegram. The posts were published at 09:40 and 09:42 UTC on 21 October 2026.

According to the posts, Macron said the Lebanese army has the backing of international forces. He also said France regrets the end of the presence of UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. The posts quoted Macron in a single headline, which both channels repeated word for word. The posts did not include further detail on what form the support would take, or when talks would begin.

The source material does not include a statement from the French presidency or the Élysée Palace. It does not show a separate report from a news outlet confirming Macron's remarks. The wording comes from social media posts and has not been verified against a transcript or official record.

It is also unclear from the material when UNIFIL's mandate ended, or what will replace the force. The sources do not say whether the Lebanese government or the Lebanese army has responded to the French offer.

Background

UNIFIL was set up by the United Nations Security Council in 1978 to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and to help the Lebanese government restore its authority in the area. Its mandate has been renewed many times over the decades, and it has operated in the south of the country along the border with Israel.

France has long been one of the main contributors to UNIFIL, and it has historically maintained close ties with the Lebanese armed forces. Support for the Lebanese army has been a focus of Western governments, which have sought to strengthen state institutions in Lebanon.

The Lebanese army is the country's main state security force. Its role in the south has been central to international efforts to keep the border area calm since the force was deployed there.

Readers looking for more detail should check official French statements and UN Security Council records for the exact timing and terms of UNIFIL's end.