France, Sept. 17 -- French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and King Abdullah II of Jordan. They were to be joined later by senior military officials from their countries and partner nations, such as Britain and the United States, for further discussions.

The talks come as the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) ends this year after almost half a century of operations dating back to the Israeli invasion of 1978.

France and Italy have said they want to set up a multinational coalition to succeed UNIFIL.

Aoun told AFP this week that Lebanon wanted a new force, European or otherwise, to prevent a security vacuum after the UN peacekeepers leave south Lebanon.

Israel and the Unit...