France has handed Lebanon a set of archival maps and documents dating back to the French Mandate era, in a move aimed at helping resolve the country’s long-standing border demarcation disputes with Syria and Israel, the Central News Agency reported.

The materials, which outline the Lebanese-Syrian frontier as defined during the French Mandate, were delivered this week by French Ambassador Hervé Magro to Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji. The handover follows an official request from Lebanon and stems from a pledge made by French President Emmanuel Macron during a recent meeting in Paris with his Lebanese counterpart Joseph Aoun.

According to Lebanese political sources cited by the Central News Agency, the documents have already been transferred to the Army’s technical committee overseeing the border demarcation process. The committee will now assess whether the records are sufficient to support Lebanon’s position in future negotiations, or if additional archival materials from France should be requested.

The maps, dating back to 1943, were produced by French geographers and border experts during the Mandate period and are believed to reflect Lebanon’s internationally recognized borders with Syria — including the disputed Shebaa Farms area. The territory, occupied by Israel since 1967, is claimed by Lebanon but also disputed by Syria.

During his recent visit to Paris, Aoun specifically requested access to the maps, with an emphasis on resolving the Shebaa Farms dispute. President Macron reportedly confirmed that the original documents remain in the possession of the French Army and agreed to hand them over.

In recent months, Lebanon has renewed its push to formally demarcate its land borders, particularly with Syria, amid shifting regional dynamics and the fading of long-standing political roadblocks. Damascus, under President Bashar al-Assad, has historically resisted formal border demarcation with Beirut — a stance rooted in political considerations and historical claims. But with the Syrian regime’s influence diminished and mounting pressure on Lebanon to assert full sovereignty, Beirut now sees a rare opportunity to resolve the issue.

While the northern and eastern borders with Syria are the current focus, the southern frontier with Israel remains more complex due to Israel’s continued occupation of Lebanese territory and the broader absence of diplomatic relations.

French authorities have also provided the same documents to Syria in a bid to facilitate future bilateral negotiations. By ensuring both countries are working from identical historical records, France hopes to minimize disputes over reference points and speed up the formal demarcation process.