Rapporteur reports plans for roughly 100 EU military personnel in Lebanon

The planned European Union mission in Lebanon could include a permanent military contingent of about 100 personnel, Rapporteur reported. Formal establishment of the mission is still expected.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said during a Beirut visit that she expected foreign ministers to take the decision on October 12. The mission is intended to support Lebanon’s armed forces and internal security forces.

According to Rapporteur’s account carried by RIA Novosti on October 9, Italy, France and Spain are expected to provide most of the personnel. Most would be based in Beirut, with no deployment planned in the south near the Israeli border.

Citing an unnamed diplomat, the publication reported competition between France and Italy to lead the mission. Paris reportedly wants to command it initially, while Rome has already identified a candidate. Command is expected to rotate annually.

Rapporteur also reported that Kallas and EU Military Committee chair General Sean Clancy received an invitation from Lebanese authorities to deploy the mission. Those details and the contingent size are the publication’s account rather than a decision already adopted by ministers.