New European mission to Lebanon to support the army and security forces for three years

Beirut – Mansour Shaaban: The European Union Council has adopted a decision to establish an EU Support Mission in Lebanon as part of its Common Security and Defence Policy, reaffirming its commitment to supporting Lebanon’s stability, sovereignty, and governmental institutions, and to enhancing lasting stability in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. The mission’s initial mandate will last for three years, a statement announced.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas said, “The EU foreign ministers agreed to launch a new EU Support Mission in Lebanon. This mission will provide advice and assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces to strengthen their control over their territory, border security, and internal security. Europe is investing in Lebanon’s future. Through this new mission, which represents a significant update to our security relations, we continue to support state institutions in regaining full sovereignty and building lasting stability for the Lebanese people.”

The mission will comprise a military component and a civilian component operating under a unified political mandate, carrying out complementary tasks within their respective areas of expertise.

The military component will provide advisory and training support to enhance the capabilities of the Lebanese Army in border security and maritime security, including monitoring and controlling land borders, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, combating smuggling, and operational coordination.

The civilian component will support the Internal Security Forces by providing advisory and specialized training to enhance their operational capabilities and develop sustainable training structures for these forces, including in areas such as cybercrime and combating smuggling. It will also provide support to strengthen port security management, including at the Port of Beirut.

Meanwhile, the situation in southern Lebanon remains a focus of attention and follow-up by President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun, who yesterday received Army Commander General Rodolphe Oueijan, who briefed him on the context of his meetings with Cypriot officials. The two discussed the situation in the south in light of the escalation of Israeli attacks.

During a meeting with a delegation from the Physiotherapists Syndicate, President Aoun addressed the current situation, pointing out the difficulties Lebanon is facing, particularly economic ones, “due to the global crisis and the war, and more dangerously, the prevailing greed of merchants, which has turned trade from a legitimate means of earning a living into a tool for exploiting people’s needs and accumulating profits.”

President Aoun met with the Secretary-General of the International Federation of Journalists, Anthony Bellanger, and learned from him about the activities of the federation, which represents 600,000 journalists in 140 countries worldwide.

Bellanger expressed the federation’s solidarity with Lebanese journalists, condemning the Israeli violations they suffered during the war in the south, and welcomed the adoption of Lebanon’s new media law.

President Aoun emphasized to Bellanger the importance of the role played by Lebanese media in highlighting Israeli attacks on Lebanon generally, and on the south in particular, which contradict all international laws and charters. He noted the importance of the issuance of the media law after years of waiting, and stated that “freedom of the media in Lebanon is safeguarded by the Constitution and laws,” calling for “not exploiting this freedom for blackmail or misleading public opinion.”

For his part, Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam chaired the weekly ministerial meeting at the Grand Serail in central Beirut, and the Minister of Information, Dr.

Salameh, quoting President Salameh, stated to those present, “There is no laxity or negligence, but rather truth and accountability.” He added, “It has become known that a truck was intercepted a few days ago at the threshing floor, traveling from the Bekaa to the Greater Beirut area, carrying hundreds of kilograms of explosives, including the highly explosive C-4 material.” He continued, “In my capacity as head of government, I call on all Lebanese to be confident that we will not show any leniency in pursuing and expanding the investigation, in order to identify all those involved in this criminal act, as well as those behind it, uncover their plans and objectives, and bring them all to justice to receive the punishment they deserve.”