THE heads of state of Lebanon, France and Jordan were set to meet today in Paris as part of an effort to drum up support for the ailing Lebanese military.

A donor conference for Lebanon’s cash-strapped army was initially set to take place in February, led by France, Saudi Arabia and the US. However, it was postponed following the eruption of the illegal and unprovoked war launched by the US and Israel on Iran and the latest round of the Israel-Hezbollah war.

The Lebanese army has now found itself caught between the Israeli military, which now occupies much of southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has refused to give up its weapons.

In June, the Lebanese and Israeli governments announced a framework agreement under which Israel would withdraw gradually from southern Lebanon and the Lebanese army would assume control, while Hezbollah would be disarmed.

Implementation of the deal has stalled.

Today’s meeting in Paris was set to focus on the situation in southern Lebanon and plans for an international presence there after the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force expires at the end of the year, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s office said in a statement.

The Lebanese government has insisted it needs a larger and better-equipped military to deploy across Lebanon and to win over Hezbollah’s supporters.