Overview

• A French draft would extend the Lebanon mission to August 31, 2026 and signal work toward a conditional drawdown once the Lebanese state alone provides security under a comprehensive political arrangement.
• The United States told a closed-door meeting it wants only one final year, and its veto power looms as the State Department declined public comment on the negotiations.
• Israel argues the force has not curbed Hezbollah, while France and Italy caution that a rapid exit could leave southern Lebanon exposed.
• Council members are moving toward a vote on August 25 ahead of the mandate’s August 31 expiry, according to texts reviewed by reporters.
• The draft urges greater international support for the Lebanese Armed Forces as the army expands deployments in the south under a truce and prepares a plan to disarm Hezbollah by year-end.