Israel Maintains Presence in Southern Lebanon as UNIFIL Mandate Nears Expiration

Lebanon is seeking an international force to replace the UN Interim Force in Lebanon after its mandate ends on December 31, 2026. Israeli troops currently occupy south Lebanon’s border areas while Israel and Lebanon conduct direct negotiations to end decades of hostilities. UNIFIL has served as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel since 1978.

The force now counts some 7,500 peacekeepers from nearly 50 countries deployed near the 120-kilometre Blue Line, the de facto border, where they operate amid the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah war. ” UN Security Council Resolution 1701 ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah and strengthened UNIFIL’s mandate to monitor the ceasefire.

The same resolution underpinned the 2024 truce that halted an earlier round of fighting and under which the Lebanese government has sought to disarm Hezbollah.

The UN secretary-general is scheduled to submit a report to the Security Council by June 1. Several sources said discussions ahead of that report include options for a downsized UN mission or an expanded role for the UN Truce Supervision Organization, established in 1948 and already maintaining a small unarmed contingent in Lebanon.

Lebanese authorities are waiting for the report before formally requesting international assistance.

Israel and the United States pushed to end the UNIFIL mandate at the Security Council in 2025. ” Some Security Council members, including China, support keeping a UN force on the ground. A funding crisis has already reduced UNIFIL’s numbers in recent months.

Italy, France and Spain have expressed willingness to retain forces in Lebanon after the current mandate. In February 2026, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asked Germany, which heads UNIFIL’s maritime taskforce, to play a “key role” following UNIFIL’s departure.