TANZANIA – The Security Council has arranged a vote for Thursday on a resolution that would conclude the over 40-year operation of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon by December 31, 2026.
According to two council diplomats on Wednesday evening, the United States, initially advocating for the termination of the force, known as UNIFIL, within a year, did not oppose the French-proposed draft resolution which sets the end date at 16 months from now.
This development indicated that the resolution was likely to pass, but it remained uncertain whether the U.S. would vote in favor or choose to abstain, as per the diplomats who spoke under anonymity as negotiations have been confidential.
UNIFIL was established to monitor the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon following Israel’s invasion in 1978. The mission’s responsibilities increased after the 2006 month-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
The resolution plans to cease UNIFIL’s mandate and operations by the end of 2026. The extraction of its 10,800 military and civilian staff and equipment is set to commence immediately, in coordination with the Lebanese government, and be finalized within a year.
The draft stipulates that the objective is for the Lebanese government to become “the sole provider of security” in southern Lebanon above the U.N.-designated border with Israel, known as the Blue Line. It also urges Israel to retract its forces from north of this boundary.
The multinational force has played a significant role in monitoring the security situation in southern Lebanon for decades, including during the Israel-Hezbollah war last year, but has drawn criticism from both sides and numerous U.S. lawmakers, some of whom now hold prominent roles in President Donald Trump’s administration or wield new influence with the White House.
Trump administration political appointees came into office wanting to shut down UNIFIL as soon as possible and have secured major cuts in U.S. funding for the force.
They regard the operation as a waste of money that is merely delaying the goal of eliminating Hezbollah’s influence and restoring full security control to the Lebanese armed forces. The government says its forces are not yet capable of assuming full control.
European nations, notably France and Italy, objected to winding down UNIFIL too quickly. They argued that ending the peacekeeping mission before the Lebanese army was able to fully secure the border area would create a vacuum that Hezbollah could easily exploit.
During the one-year withdrawal period, the draft resolution says UNIFIL is authorized to provide security and assistance to U.N. personnel, “to maintain situational awareness in the vicinity of UNIFIL locations,” and to contribute to the protection of civilians and safe delivery of humanitarian aid “within the limits of its capacities.”
The draft urges the international community “to intensify its support, including equipment, material and finance” to the Lebanese armed forces.
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