Macron Pledges French Support to Strengthen Lebanese Armed Forces

French President Emmanuel Macron met in Paris with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Jordan's King Abdullah II, pledging to work with the United States, Saudi Arabia and other partners to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces.

Why this matters. Increased international backing for the Lebanese army is central to any plan to have state forces, rather than Hezbollah, control southern Lebanon -- a precondition Israel has set for any troop withdrawal.