Yesterday, EU High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini sort of admitted that this has never happened as she said in a speech:
We, the European Union, have always been on the side of Lebanon and the Lebanese security forces. Since 2006, the EU has invested more than 85 million euros across the entire security sector.What is this "model regiment"?
Our Member States are contributing to UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) with thousands of troops – and let me thank in particular Italy for their commitment and for hosting today's conference.
We now want to support the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces to the South of Lebanon, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The European Union is ready to work with the rest of the international community, and with the Lebanese institutions, towards the full implementation of the Resolution. In particular, we very much support the deployment of a Lebanese “model regiment” in the area, as a step towards a stronger and more stable Lebanon.
Today we commit an additional 50 million euros to support Lebanon's security until 2020.
Last year, Lebanon came up with the idea of a "model regiment" as a token force in Hezbollah's territory to pretend that there is actually a Lebanese Army presence there.
UNIFIL has conducted consultations with the Government of Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces on the possibility of establishing what the Lebanese Armed Forces now refers to as a “model Lebanese Armed Forces regiment” to cooperate closely with UNIFIL, in particular along the Blue Line. The Government has reconfirmed its commitment to increasing the presence of the Lebanese Armed Forces in the UNIFIL area of operations, including through such a regiment.Almost certainly Hezbollah is happily going along with this charade of a tiny token Lebanese force so the EU can pour more money into Lebanon, pretending that this force is a first step at taking Hezbollah's weapons away.
(h/t Irene)