The Arab Republic of Egypt hosted the preparatory meeting of the International Conference in Support of the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces in Cairo on Tuesday, February 24, as part of international efforts to strengthen the foundations of the Lebanese state and extend its national sovereignty.
The meeting was held in preparation of the high-level conference in Paris scheduled for March 5, 2026, aiming to establish implementation mechanisms that enable the military institution to play its pivotal role in maintaining stability and implementing relevant UN resolutions, Egyptian State Information Service (SIS) reported.
The preparatory meeting saw high-level attendance, including General Rudolph Haykal, Commander of the Lebanese Army, and Major General Raed Abdullah, Director General of the Internal Security Forces, alongside representatives of the Quintet Committee countries on Lebanon.
Other notable attendees included Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, French President’s Personal Envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian, Saudi Envoy to Lebanon Prince Yazid bin Farhan, and senior US officials.
The meeting also included representatives from the core group of the Military Technical Coordination Mechanism for Lebanon (MTC4L) - comprising France, the United States, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain - as well as the Arab League, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL), and the European External Action Service.
According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, participants reaffirmed their commitment to mobilising the financial and technical resources necessary for the Lebanese state to extend its exclusive sovereignty over its entire territory.
The meeting’s agenda comprised three main working sessions. The first focused on reviewing the urgent operational needs of the Lebanese Army and ways to enhance its defensive capabilities. The second addressed the institutional and logistical requirements of the Internal Security Forces, while the final session concentrated on coordination mechanisms and the final arrangements for the Paris conference.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty delivered an opening speech emphasizing that the broad international presence at the preparatory meeting conveys a strong message of solidarity with the Lebanese state.
He highlighted the gathering’s aim to assist Lebanon’s national institutions, particularly the Army and Internal Security Forces, in strengthening state sovereignty and consolidating full control over the country.
The Foreign Minister stressed that the ultimate objective is to enable the Lebanese state to maintain a monopoly on weapons, in line with priorities set by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
He noted that Egypt’s hosting of the meeting reflects the directives of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to provide full support to Lebanon and its national institutions.
In his remarks, Abdelatty reviewed tangible progress achieved by Lebanese institutions, praising the government’s commitment to implementing the executive plan for restricting weapons issued in September 2025.
He highlighted the success of the Lebanese Army in completing the first phase of the plan south of the Litani River within the scheduled timeframe, describing it as a testament to the Army’s competence and a call for intensified international support to complete the remaining phases.
Abdelatty affirmed that supporting the Lebanese Army is direct support for the “option of the state” amid ongoing regional challenges. He warned of continued Israeli violations, calling for a full and unconditional Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territories, including the five points occupied during its recent war.
He stressed that such violations weaken the Army’s ability to implement the weapon restriction plan and underscored the importance of fully adhering to the cessation of hostilities agreement and UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Participants at the meeting reiterated their full support for the efforts of the Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces under current circumstances, committing to mobilize the necessary international financial and technical resources to enable Lebanon to extend its exclusive sovereignty over its entire territory. (Source & Photo © Egyptian State Information Service)
