Lebanese Foreign Minister Meets U.S. Asst Sec Blome at Manama Dialogue on Army Support, Discusses EU Mission and Post-UNIFIL with German Deputy Defense Minister

MANAMA, Bahrain

Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raggi met with Donald Blome, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, on October 31 (local time) on the sidelines of the 22nd Regional Security Summit 'IISS Manama Dialogue 2026' held in Manama, Bahrain, stating that "continued U.S. support for the Lebanese Armed Forces" is necessary. On the same day, Minister Raggi also met with German Deputy Defence Minister Nils Schmid to discuss preparations for the newly launched European Union (EU) mission in Lebanon and the post-UNIFIL phase.

Minister Raggi stated on his official X account that day that he discussed developments in Lebanon and the region with Assistant Secretary Blome, noting, "Our discussions focused on the importance of the Lebanese government continuing its reform efforts across the political, judicial, security, economic, and financial sectors." He said he "emphasized the need for continued U.S. support for the Lebanese Army," adding that this support "reflects the international community's confidence in the military institution and its capability to carry out its missions."

German Deputy Defence Minister: "Ready to Rejoin Post-UNIFIL Force"

Earlier, Minister Raggi announced that he met with German Deputy Defence Minister Schmid on the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue to discuss arrangements concerning the newly established EU mission in Lebanon and the post-UNIFIL phase. He expressed gratitude for Germany's contribution to UNIFIL's Maritime Task Force and said, "Supporting the Lebanese Army is essential to ensuring that the state fully exercises its sovereignty and that weapons remain exclusively in the hands of the military institution."

According to Minister Raggi, Deputy Minister Schmid stated that Germany is prepared to contribute again to any force succeeding UNIFIL, emphasizing that strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces is key to Lebanon's stability.

UNIFIL Mandate to End on December 31 This Year... Security Council Resolution 2790 "Final Extension"

On August 28 of last year, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2790 (2025), extending UNIFIL's mandate "for a final time" until December 31, 2026, and deciding that an orderly and safe drawdown and withdrawal begin within one year from that date. According to a UN press release, the resolution demanded the full implementation of Resolution 1701 (2006) and reaffirmed strong support for full respect of the Blue Line, urging the Lebanese government to extend its authority across all Lebanese territory in accordance with relevant resolutions and agreements to ensure that "as soon as possible, there will be no weapons other than those of the Government of Lebanon and no authority other than that of the Government of Lebanon."

At the meeting at the time, the U.S. representative stated that "the first 'I' in UNIFIL stands for 'interim,'" remarking that it was time for UNIFIL's mission to end and that this was the final time the U.S. would support an extension. The U.S. representative noted that the security environment in Lebanon was "fundamentally different" from a year earlier, creating space for Lebanon to assume greater responsibility, and expressed U.S. support for Lebanon's efforts to take on security responsibilities while also affirming support for Israel's right to self-defense. The Israeli representative stated that "UNIFIL has failed in its mission," asserting that UNIFIL's presence did not prevent Hezbollah from building "one of the most dangerous arsenals in the world." He urged the Security Council to take a new path by empowering the Lebanese state and holding Hezbollah and Iran accountable.

UN Secretary-General Presented Three Options for 'Post-UNIFIL' in June... "Expansion of Support for Lebanese Armed Forces Needed"

In accordance with the request of Resolution 2790, UN Secretary-General António Guterres sent a letter (S/2026/453) to the President of the Security Council on June 1, presenting options for the implementation of Resolution 1701 following UNIFIL's withdrawal. In the letter, the Secretary-General wrote that "following direct talks between representatives of Lebanon and Israel at a meeting hosted by the United States, the United States announced on 16 April 2026 a 10-day cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel." According to the letter, the cessation of hostilities was extended by three weeks following a second meeting on April 23, and was extended again by 45 days during a third round of negotiations on May 14–15.

The Secretary-General stated that support for the Lebanese Armed Forces "remains crucial and needs to be scaled up" to assist the Government of Lebanon in extending state authority across its entire territory and advancing the "State monopoly over weapons." The letter noted that following the November 2024 cessation of hostilities agreement, the Lebanese government had expanded measures including reinforcing the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces south of the Litani River, but "weapons continued to exist outside of state authority." It also recorded that on March 2, 2026, "Hezbollah launched drones and rockets towards Israel." According to the letter, Israel responded by carrying out large-scale airstrikes across Lebanon, and the Israel Defense Forces expanded their presence north of the Blue Line. Citing the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, the letter stated that the intensified hostilities resulted in 3,412 deaths in Lebanon, including women and children, more than 10,000 injuries, and the deaths of at least 21 Lebanese Armed Forces personnel. On the Israeli side, at least 3 civilians and 26 Israeli soldiers were killed, while 6 UNIFIL peacekeepers were killed and several others wounded. The letter noted that while the Lebanese Armed Forces maintained some presence south of the Litani River, they had temporarily withdrawn from areas adjacent to the Blue Line.

The letter put forward three options combining unarmed military observers and armed protection personnel as future models for a UN uniformed presence. Option 1 would comprise approximately 5,525 personnel, Option 2 approximately 3,370 personnel, and Option 3 approximately 1,980 personnel. Separately, the letter suggested that a maritime task force supporting the Lebanese Navy to prevent the unauthorized entry of weapons by sea could be added to any of the options. The letter noted that the Lebanese Navy "needs to continue building capacity" to operate independently throughout its territorial waters, pointing out that gaps remain in maritime surveillance capability, vessels, and operational range. UN support regarding the implementation of the arms embargo "would be limited to reporting on relevant information shared with the UN by Member States," the letter stated.

U.S.-Israel-Lebanon 'Trilateral Framework'..."Lebanese Government to Achieve Full and Verified Disarmament of Non-State Armed Groups"

The state monopoly over weapons, repeatedly emphasized by Minister Raggi during the summit, is also a commitment made by the Lebanese government in the 'Trilateral Framework Between the United States of America, the State of Israel, and the Republic of Lebanon' signed in Washington on June 26. According to the framework document released by the U.S. Department of State, the governments of Israel and Lebanon affirmed their common objective of enduring peace and security under the "full support of the United States, led by President Donald J. Trump," expressing their determination to end conflicts between the two countries and establish peaceful, neighboring relations.

In the document, the Government of Lebanon pledged to "re-establish the state’s monopoly on the use of force, achieve the complete and verified disarmament of all non-state armed groups, and ensure that these groups have no military or security role and no armed capabilities anywhere in Lebanon." To this end, the Lebanese government requested the support of international partners, particularly Arab partners, "under the leadership of the United States." The Government of Israel stated that its military actions in Lebanon were "solely the result of attacks, threats, and hostile intent by non-state armed groups, particularly Hizballah," asserting that once these groups are disarmed and dismantled throughout Lebanon, there would be no need for military operations or presence by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and declared that it harbored no territorial ambitions in Lebanon.

The framework stipulated that the Lebanese Armed Forces would progressively assume security responsibilities in pilot zones, with the IDF conducting phased redeployments as the disarmament of non-state armed groups and the dismantling of their infrastructure are verified. The Lebanese government committed to performance-based programs to upgrade the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces, acknowledging that new U.S. assistance is strictly conditioned upon "verifiable milestones, full transparency, demonstrated performance, and continuous oversight." In the document, both governments acknowledged the U.S. role in facilitating peace efforts and expressed "deep appreciation for President Trump’s vision and leadership."

The Government of Lebanon also reaffirmed in the framework that its state security forces bear exclusive responsibility for the security and defense of Lebanon, and that the "exclusive sovereign right to decide on war and peace" rests with the Government of Lebanon. The Lebanese government rejected any claim by any state or non-state actor to use force on behalf of Lebanon without its explicit authorization, explicitly stating that any claim to exercise a military or security role is "unlawful under the decisions of the Government of Lebanon." Both governments agreed to establish a military coordination group with "U.S. support and participation" to ensure the overall implementation of the framework. Lebanon and the United States agreed to prevent funds from flowing to entities or individuals affiliated with non-state armed groups, and the Lebanese government explicitly pledged to ensure that reconstruction funds do not flow to non-state armed groups.

Meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister..."Hezbollah Refuses to Implement Government Decisions on Weapons"

On the same day, Minister Raggi also held talks with Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Armenia. Minister Raggi stated that during the meeting, he outlined the challenges facing Lebanon, which is "caught between continued Israeli attacks and territorial occupation, and Hezbollah, which refuses to implement government decisions regarding weapons." He reaffirmed the strong bonds between the two countries and praised the role of the Armenian community in Lebanon. According to Minister Raggi, Minister Mirzoyan stressed the importance of dialogue and negotiations in resolving all conflicts and achieving stability, and both sides agreed to launch bilateral political consultations.

Minister Mirzoyan also stated on his X account that he discussed bilateral ties, trade, investment, and artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation with Minister Raggi, valued mutual support in multilateral forums, and exchanged views on regional developments.

In addition, Minister Raggi met with Othman Belbeisi, Regional Director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the Middle East and North Africa, to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between Lebanon and the IOM, expressing gratitude for the IOM's efforts to facilitate border crossings between Lebanon and Syria.

Meeting with Bahraini Foreign Minister on Opening Day..."Condemnation of Attacks on Manama"

On October 30, the opening day of the conference, Minister Raggi held a meeting with Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. He said he "reaffirmed the solidarity of the Lebanese government and people with Bahrain against any attack on its territory, and reiterated condemnation of the attacks targeting Manama." He added that he reaffirmed "the firm commitment of the Lebanese state to defend sovereignty, ensure that weapons remain exclusively in the hands of legitimate state institutions, and extend state authority across the country."

According to Minister Raggi, Minister Al Zayani underscored the importance of Lebanon's stability and expressed hope that bilateral relations would regain their former strength. Minister Raggi welcomed the reopening of the Bahraini Embassy in Beirut and expressed hope for the swift appointment of a new ambassador, and both sides also discussed the resumption of direct flights between the two countries starting with commercial air cargo, as well as the potential simplification of visa procedures for Lebanese citizens visiting Bahrain.

On the same day, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also held a telephone conversation with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain to discuss recent developments in the Gulf countries. According to the Lebanese Presidency, President Aoun affirmed that Lebanon stands by Bahrain and its people, expressing hope for Bahrain's appointment of an ambassador to Lebanon and the resumption of air routes between the two nations. King Hamad noted the depth of bilateral relations and Bahrain's support for Lebanon.

Sources (KST)

• Post on X by Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raggi (@YoussefRaggi, meeting with Assistant Secretary Blome, October 31, 2026): https://x.com/YoussefRaggi/status/2116503743516565730
• Post on X by Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raggi (@YoussefRaggi, Arabic, meeting with Assistant Secretary Blome, October 31, 2026): https://x.com/YoussefRaggi/status/2116503828136612063
• Post on X by Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raggi (@YoussefRaggi, meeting with German Deputy Defence Minister Schmid, October 31, 2026): https://x.com/YoussefRaggi/status/2116495746916651152
• Post on X by Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raggi (@YoussefRaggi, meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan, October 31, 2026): https://x.com/YoussefRaggi/status/2116515309767065655
• Post on X by Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raggi (@YoussefRaggi, meeting with IOM Regional Director, October 31, 2026): https://x.com/YoussefRaggi/status/2116499211873051013
• Post on X by Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raggi (@YoussefRaggi, meeting with Bahraini Foreign Minister Al Zayani, October 30, 2026): https://x.com/YoussefRaggi/status/2116211257351049355
• Post on X by Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan (@AraratMirzoyan, October 31, 2026): https://x.com/AraratMirzoyan/status/2116469739702640784
• Post on X by the Lebanese Presidency (@LBpresidency, October 30, 2026): https://x.com/LBpresidency/status/2116161466025881610
• The U.S. Department of State, "Trilateral Framework Between the United States of America, the State of Israel, and the Republic of Lebanon" (June 26, 2026): https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesman/2026/06/trilateral-framework-between-the-united-states-of-america-the-state-of-israel-and-the-republic-of-lebanon
• UN Security Council Press Release SC/16159, "Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2790 (2025), Security Council Extends Mandate of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon" (August 28, 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sc16159.doc.htm
• Letter from the UN Secretary-General to the President of the Security Council S/2026/453 (June 1, 2026): https://unifil.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/S_2026_453-EN.pdf