International discussions over the future of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon have expanded beyond the question of whether the force's mandate should be renewed, with France and Italy leading efforts to design a new security framework centered on the Lebanese Army and backed by European and U.S. support, according to political and diplomatic sources.

The proposed arrangements would move beyond the traditional model of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) by establishing a broader security partnership involving Europe, the United States and the Lebanese Army, while retaining the United Nations as the political and legal umbrella for any future mission.

The initiative comes as UNIFIL's current mandate is due to expire at the end of the year and amid efforts to prevent a security vacuum along Lebanon's southern border.

According to informed political and diplomatic sources cited by Addiyar newspaper, France and Italy have spent recent weeks spearheading international consultations on post-UNIFIL arrangements, with clear U.S. backing and ongoing discussions involving Lebanon, the United Nations and several European and regional partners.

The talks gained momentum following recent comments by the French Foreign Ministry, which said Paris and Rome are prepared to deploy an international coalition force in southern Lebanon after UNIFIL's mission ends, provided Lebanon requests such assistance and the mission supports the Lebanese Army.

Those remarks have fueled questions over the composition of the proposed force and the legal framework under which it would operate.

The sources said France and Italy began political and military consultations in June aimed at developing preliminary implementation plans for a new international presence.

According to the proposal under discussion, the new force would take the form of a multinational coalition under joint French and Italian leadership, with participation from European countries and the possibility of contributions from Arab and other regional states.

The coalition would operate in full coordination with the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Army under an international legal framework that remains under negotiation.

The sources stressed that discussions are not focused on creating a direct successor to UNIFIL or a "UNIFIL 2.0." Instead, they seek to redefine the role of the international presence in southern Lebanon.

Rather than carrying out traditional peacekeeping duties, the proposed force would focus on supporting the Lebanese Army by strengthening its operational capabilities and providing advanced intelligence, technical and logistical assistance.

Its responsibilities would include aerial surveillance, reconnaissance, military training and border monitoring.

Parallel to the European initiative, the sources said the United States is pursuing a complementary track centered on a leading coordinating role for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), while ruling out the deployment of American combat troops on Lebanese territory.

According to the draft framework currently under discussion, security responsibilities would be divided among several partners rather than concentrated within a single international force.

Under the proposal, the Lebanese Army would serve as the primary operational force responsible for maintaining security in southern Lebanon.

The European Union would oversee military training and capacity-building, while France and Italy would coordinate the European component and lead the transition to the post-UNIFIL security architecture.

The new multinational force would provide logistical support, operational assistance, technical surveillance and intelligence capabilities.

The United States, through CENTCOM, would assume responsibility for coordination, verification, oversight and security guarantees through joint mechanisms with participating partners.

The United Nations would remain responsible for providing the political legitimacy and legal framework for the mission should the arrangement receive approval from the U.N. Security Council.

The sources emphasized that Lebanon has not formally requested the replacement of UNIFIL.

Instead, Lebanese officials have focused their contacts with international partners on preventing a security vacuum while preserving an international support presence in the south.

According to the sources, Beirut has made clear that any future arrangement must receive the approval of the Lebanese State and be designed to reinforce the Lebanese Army's capabilities rather than replace it or undermine Lebanon's sovereignty.