EU creates three-year mission to support Lebanon’s security forces

European Union foreign ministers have established the EU Support Mission in Lebanon, a three-year civilian-military operation intended to advise and train the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces. The Council of the EU said the mission is meant to strengthen territorial control, border security and internal security.

The military component will concentrate on planning, training and border and maritime security. The civilian component will support the internal security service in areas including cybercrime and anti-smuggling work. Reuters reported that more than 10 EU member states had indicated readiness to contribute personnel or resources, while detailed operational planning continues.

The mission is linked to a wider transition in southern Lebanon. The UN peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, is scheduled to begin withdrawing at the end of 2026, increasing pressure on Lebanese state institutions to assume security responsibilities. The EU decision does not itself deploy a combat force or replace UNIFIL.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc was investing in Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability. The practical test will be whether training, equipment and institutional reform translate into effective state control while political divisions and regional tensions remain unresolved.