The European Union has announced a €60 million aid package for Lebanon’s Armed Forces as the crisis-hit country struggles to implement a fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah, Belga reported.

This support comes “at a critical moment for the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel,” the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said.

The Lebanese Armed Forces “are essential to regional and national stability, and deserve our full support in carrying out their crucial mission,” the Estonian Commissioner added.

The ceasefire agreement, which ended the war between the Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel, provides for the withdrawal of the Israeli Army from southern Lebanon over 60 days until 26 January. On Saturday, the new Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called for its respect “within the set deadlines.”

A few days before the deadline, the process has not yet been completed. Emerging weakened from the war, Hezbollah must withdraw its forces north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometres from the Lebanese-Israeli border, The Brussels Times reported.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron came to Beirut last Friday to show his support for the new Lebanese leaders.

He announced that an international conference would soon be held in Paris to help rebuild Lebanon after the war with Israel, which ended with the ceasefire agreement on 27 November.

During his trip, the French leader also called for the implementation of this agreement to be “accelerated.”

“There must be a total withdrawal of Israeli forces, a total monopoly on weapons by the Lebanese Army,” he stressed.

The aid announced by the EU on Tuesday is the latest from the Western camp to strengthen the Lebanese Army. Last week, the United States announced its intention to release more than $117 million (€113 million) in security aid.