“Among numerous challenges faced by the United Nations in the Middle East, UNIFIL’s shortcomings may be the most prominent. Charged with preventing Hezbollah from rearming after the 2006 conflict, it has observed as Hezbollah evolved into the world’s largest non-state terrorist and military group,” commented David Friedman, former U.S. Ambassador during the initial Trump administration, to Fox News Digital in June. “Genuine stability in Lebanon — potentially achievable now that Israel has weakened Hezbollah’s leadership — won’t be accomplished through UNIFIL.”
In October 2024, Fox News Digital highlighted UNIFIL’s inability to stop Hezbollah’s significant increase in rockets and arms since the 2006 mandate was put in place.
Experts and media reports indicate that pro-Hezbollah officials and soldiers within the Lebanese Army remain key obstacles. In late January, it was reported that a Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) chief sent a secret document to Hezbollah. Suhil Bahij Gharb, responsible for military intelligence in southern Lebanon, reportedly obtained the sensitive information from a facility managed by the U.S., France, and UNIFIL.
It remains unclear how the U.S. will vote on the resolution or whether it will seek revisions to the French-authored text.
The U.S. mission declined to comment, while the U.N. missions of Israel and France did not respond to Fox News Digital requests.
