Lebanon has rejected a U.S. proposal to entrust a civilian body with verifying Hezbollah’s withdrawal and the Lebanese army’s deployment in southern Lebanon, as France and the United States discuss arrangements to prevent a security vacuum after the U.N. peacekeeping force leaves at the end of the year, Lebanese sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The discussions center on two key issues: establishing an alternative international presence after the withdrawal of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and agreeing on a mechanism to verify Israeli withdrawals and the Lebanese army’s deployment in designated pilot areas.

The talks come amid stalled efforts to expand the pilot areas, disagreements over the verification mechanism and Israel’s continued occupation of more than 55 towns and villages along the southern border.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Tuesday that there was a consensus on the need to avoid a security vacuum after UNIFIL’s mandate expires at the end of 2026, adding that France was working toward a new security structure based on existing U.N. resolutions, particularly Resolution 1701.

France has proposed placing the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel under a U.N. umbrella while extending UNIFIL’s mandate for at least six months, according to Lebanese sources familiar with the proposal.

The arrangement would task the peacekeeping force with overseeing implementation of both Resolution 1701 and the framework agreement, signed under U.S. auspices last June. Alternatively, the mandate and personnel of the U.N. Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) could be expanded to at least 1,500 members to carry out the same responsibilities, the sources said.

“Lebanon has not yet been informed of the outcome of the French-U.S. discussions, but Rubio’s remarks point to a specific formula that has been discussed between Washington and Paris,” the sources said.

The proposal is expected to become clearer early next week, when U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz visits Beirut to discuss UNIFIL’s future and possible alternatives.

Barrot said France had presented its proposals to Lebanese authorities during a visit to Beirut several days ago before discussing them with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is mediating between Lebanon and Israel.

He expressed hope that an agreement could be reached despite delays caused partly by election-related considerations in the United States and Israel.

The objective, he said, was to secure Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon, disarm Hezbollah and restore a strong Lebanese state with a monopoly on weapons, capable of ensuring security and prosperity for all communities, including the Shiite population.

Barrot stressed that any new security arrangement should be grounded in existing Security Council resolutions and help ensure the success of the trilateral framework agreement, warning that a security vacuum could undermine its implementation.

Lebanon is counting on U.S. pressure to advance the French proposal, particularly as Israel opposes any continued international presence involving French troops. Relations between Paris and Tel Aviv have remained strained despite occasional positive signals from France.

While Paris is urging Beirut to fulfill its commitments to the international community, including the full implementation of Resolution 1701, Lebanese authorities remain uncertain about how to proceed.

Civilian verification mission rejected

The disagreement also extends to the mechanism for verifying developments on the ground in the pilot areas.

Rubio revived a U.S. proposal on Monday, following talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, suggesting that a civilian body could verify whether the parties were complying with the framework agreement.

The proposal does not necessarily require a military mission similar to UNIFIL, Rubio said, arguing that a credible civilian presence could carry out the task.

Lebanon rejected the proposal during military negotiations with Israel held under U.S. auspices in Tampa, Florida, ministerial sources close to the Lebanese presidency told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The sources said Beirut opposed replacing UNIFIL with a civilian force or non-governmental organization, regardless of its composition, arguing that such an arrangement would lack the effectiveness and credibility required.

Lebanon instead wants either an extension of UNIFIL’s mandate or an expansion of UNTSO’s personnel to at least 1,500, with a clear U.N. mandate.

Israel, meanwhile, rejected Lebanon’s proposal to strengthen UNTSO, which has operated in southern Lebanon since 1949.

The Lebanese position reflects concerns that a civilian organization would be unable to perform the security and monitoring functions required under the proposed arrangements.

Retired Brig. Gen. Saeed al-Qozah also questioned the effectiveness of replacing UNIFIL with a civilian mission, arguing that the mandate of UNTSO should instead be expanded, with additional personnel and logistical support, to enable it to mediate between the Lebanese and Israeli armies.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that a civilian mission would not succeed, citing the experience of the U.S. private security company Blackwater in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime.

“UNIFIL forces, which represent 45 countries, barely managed to carry out their mission. So how could a civilian company do any better?” he said.

Al-Qozah said civilian organizations could help clear landmines and remove unexploded ordnance and other remnants of war but could not be entrusted with monitoring a ceasefire or mediating between the two armies.

Even an expanded UNTSO mission, he added, would have a limited role focused on monitoring the ceasefire and serving as an intermediary between the Lebanese and Israeli militaries, particularly because Lebanon rejects direct coordination through a joint operations room.