A potential French-Italian plan for the period after the U.N. peacekeeping mission UNIFIL ends its mandate in Lebanon has been presented and discussed as part of international efforts to avoid a security vacuum following its withdrawal, sources following a preparatory conference on support for the Lebanese army told Annahar.

The proposed French-Italian arrangements were among several issues discussed at the preparatory meeting, which also examined the Lebanese army’s ability to deploy in southern Lebanon and the capabilities and needs of the Internal Security Forces to maintain domestic security once the army is deployed in the south.

The discussions come as Lebanon and international partners consider how security responsibilities could be managed after UNIFIL’s mandate expires, while seeking to strengthen the Lebanese state’s ability to extend its authority across the country.

Informed sources told Annahar that Saudi Arabia, contrary to speculation, remains deeply engaged in developments in Lebanon.

Although the situation in Yemen and the escalation by the Houthis are currently occupying much of Riyadh’s attention, the Saudi leadership remains interested in supporting the Lebanese state, President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the Lebanese army, the sources said.

The sources also said Israeli officials had told their U.S. counterparts that Israel does not intend to remain in southern Lebanon.

But the sources said they were not convinced by that position and expressed concern that Israel may ultimately seek to maintain its presence in the south.

Against that backdrop, the preparatory conference could provide an opportunity for international powers to coordinate efforts to press Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory, the sources said.

Such a withdrawal would help create the conditions for the Lebanese army to strengthen its deployment in southern Lebanon with international backing, they added.