France Pledges 2,000 to Lebanon Mission

French President Jacques Chirac announced the country has increased its pledge of 400 troops for an international peacekeeping force in Lebanon to 2,000.

The announcement Thursday followed days of negotiations with representatives from the United Nations, Lebanon and Israel, The Washington Post reported. France and other European nations had expressed concern that the force had no clear directive and was not properly authorized to defend itself or civilians if threatened.

We obtained the necessary clarifications from the U.N. on the chain of command, which needs to be simple, coherent and reactive, Chirac said, and the rules of engagement, which must guarantee the freedom of movement of the force and its ability to operate when confronted with hostile conditions.

The U.N. force, which has still not amassed the 15,000 troops called for by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, is aimed at helping the Lebanese army control Hezbollah in areas of the country formerly occupied by the Israeli Defense Forces, Arutz Sheva reported Friday.