Report: US aiming to convene Gulf and western states to help fund Lebanese army

The United States intends to convene a conference of Gulf and western states to fund and expand the Lebanese Army, according to Kann 11 reporter Roi Kais.

Per Kais, due to the Lebanese state being on the verge of bankruptcy, the funding for an expanded Lebanese Army, which is necessary to implement UN Resolution 1701, which calls for all non-state actors in southern Lebanon to disarm and withdraw in favor of official Lebanese institutions.

Israel reportedly does not object to this effort due to the UN Resolution.

The United States and France are apparently divided on who to strengthen in southern Lebanon, with the US preferring the Lebanese Army and France the UNIFIL force.