Middle East live: Paris talks aim to bolster Lebanese army as end of UN mission looms

Home Middle East Live Issued on: 17/09/2026 - 08:14Modified: 17/09/2026 - 08:16 A Lebanese army vehicle entering the southern village of Zawtar Al Gharbieh, in July 2026. © Mohammed Zaatari, AP file photo European and Arab military chiefs meet in Paris on Thursday to discuss steps to bolster Lebanon's struggling armed forces as the mandate of a United Nations peacekeeping mission expires at the end of the year, amid fears of a renewed Israeli military campaign in southern Lebanon. Follow our live coverage for updates from the Middle East. Yesterday's key developments: Yemen's Houthis reported fresh Saudi air strikes on Wednesday as Riyadh accused the group of launching a "cowardly" attack targeting Islam's holy city of Mecca – which the Houthis disputed. Rescuers in war-torn Gaza were searching for dozens of people missing after an apartment block collapsed, killing eight people including children. Israel and Morocco have agreed to upgrade ties and open embassies in their respective countries following, according to an Israeli foreign ministry statement. (FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AP and AFP) Keywords for this article