A planned European mission in Lebanon will focus on strengthening the capabilities of the Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces, allowing the military to concentrate on bringing weapons under State control, particularly in areas north of the Litani River, Lebanese security sources told Erem News.

The mission will go beyond conventional military training but will have no executive powers or direct role in field operations, according to the sources. Its experts will not take part in raids, search Hezbollah facilities, locate the group’s weapons depots or provide direct intelligence support for Lebanese military operations.

The European Union approved the mission’s establishment on Monday. It is initially expected to comprise between 100 and 150 military and civilian experts and operate under a three-year mandate, as Lebanon and its international partners prepare for new security arrangements ahead of the planned withdrawal of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Training, border security and intelligence capabilities

The European mission will focus on improving the capabilities of the army’s land and maritime border regiments, training military units in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and strengthening efforts to combat smuggling and secure border crossings, the sources said.

It will also train the Internal Security Forces to take on additional security responsibilities, easing the army’s daily workload and allowing it to redirect personnel and resources toward controlling territory and addressing unauthorized weapons.

The sources said the mission was directly linked to the government’s weapons-control plan, but stressed that responsibility for implementing the plan would remain entirely Lebanese.

European experts will not have independent authority to seize weapons or intervene in operations on the ground. Instead, their role will be to improve the capabilities of the Lebanese units responsible for carrying out security tasks.

Reuters reported in June that a European document had proposed establishing a training mission to strengthen Lebanon’s security institutions, enabling the army to focus on disarming Hezbollah.

Mission to operate across Lebanon

The mission’s activities will not be confined to areas north of the Litani River. Its scope will extend across Lebanon, including the country’s land and maritime borders, the sources said.

Some of its activities are expected to focus on areas where the Lebanese army is deployed away from locations occupied by Israel.

Areas north of the Litani are expected to be particularly important in the next phase of the government’s plan to bring weapons under state control. The army needs additional capabilities to monitor weapons movements, prevent smuggling and stop weapons from being stockpiled again, the sources said.

The mission will not directly search for Hezbollah facilities or participate in operations targeting the group’s military infrastructure. Its contribution will instead center on training and capacity-building for the Lebanese units tasked with implementing the government’s plan.

The initiative is also part of broader security arrangements linked to a framework agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel under U.S. auspices. The framework includes reciprocal steps concerning the deployment of the Lebanese army, Hezbollah’s disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal.

European experts seek security guarantees

The European side has requested stringent security guarantees to protect its personnel ahead of their expected deployment early next year, the sources said. Details of where the experts will be stationed and how they will be distributed across the country have not been disclosed.

The security concerns stem from the possibility that the experts could face threats or intimidation from Hezbollah or groups aligned with it, particularly if the training programs are perceived as indirectly contributing to the dismantling of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure.

The European countries participating in the mission have not yet announced the planned deployment arrangements or the budget allocated to the operation.

The Council of the European Union has said a separate decision will be required to launch the mission’s activities once operational planning has been completed.

European support as UNIFIL prepares to withdraw

The mission is being developed as UNIFIL’s mandate approaches its scheduled expiration at the end of December, with a gradual withdrawal expected to continue throughout 2027.

The sources said the pace of U.N. patrols in southern Lebanon had declined significantly as attention shifted toward preparations for the force’s withdrawal.

Beirut, meanwhile, is seeking to ensure that international support for Lebanon’s military and security institutions continues after UNIFIL’s departure.

The European mission, however, is not intended to replace UNIFIL. The two differ substantially in their mandates, size and responsibilities, a distinction also emphasized by the European Union in its official decision.

Analyst expects limited operational impact

Researcher and political analyst Mazen Bilal said the European mission’s role would remain limited to training, advice and support, without executive authority or powers to conduct field operations.

In comments to Erem News, Bilal said the mission could not take UNIFIL’s place, whether in terms of its international mandate, the number of personnel deployed or its capacity to operate across the territory and monitor conditions on the ground.

He said the mission’s impact would be more symbolic than operational because of its limited size and the existence of foreign training programs for the Lebanese army.

European countries could provide additional logistical assistance through established support channels, Bilal added. However, he ruled out the prospect of the mission directly helping the Lebanese army deploy or carry out security operations inside the country.