France is hosting an international conference in Paris on Thursday to rally military and humanitarian support for Lebanon, according to AP. The conference aims to address the effects of the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah militants and Israel, which has resulted in over 2,500 deaths and the displacement of a million people. This conflict has also deepened Lebanon’s economic crisis, making the situation more dire.

The main objective of the conference is to gather aid to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis and strengthen Lebanon’s sovereignty and institutions. Lebanon has been without a president for two years, as political factions struggle to agree on a successor. The country also faces the challenge of Hezbollah, which operates as a state within a state, controlling significant areas of Lebanon, including military and political affairs.