French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Friday that Lebanon’s army must be given the means to disarm the terror group Hezbollah and replace a United Nations peacekeeping force after its mandate ends this year.

On the final stop of a regional tour that has taken him to Syria and Iraq, Barrot was meeting senior officials in Beirut, with discussions expected to address preparations for a March conference in Paris in support of the Lebanese army.

“France’s vision for Lebanon is that of a strong, sovereign state holding a monopoly on arms,” Barrot told AFP.

“The first step to fulfill this mission is to give the Lebanese Armed Forces the means to continue the work of disarming Hezbollah,” he said.

The Iran-backed terror group emerged weakened from its latest war with Israel, which ended in a November 2024 ceasefire agreement.

A French diplomatic source said “the regional context makes the issue of Hezbollah’s disarmament particularly sensitive,” adding that “there is a window for progress on this matter” given the “weakening of the Iranian regime.”

Iran and the United States held talks in Oman on Friday that were seen as a critical chance to avert any new escalation between the foes.

Iran had insisted the talks would be centered solely on its nuclear program, although the United States wanted to discuss issues including Tehran’s backing for terror groups in the region.

Barrot said Lebanon’s army should “replace” the United Nations........

© The Times of Israel