Against the backdrop of the intensifying war against Hezbollah, the UN is trying to cement the continued presence of UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon, despite a Security Council decision, led by the US, to withdraw the forces from the area after they proved ineffective. Under the joint decision, the forces are supposed to leave Lebanon at the end of 2026. However, Israel Hayom has learned that in the coming days the UN will submit an "updated" proposal to keep thousands of observers in the area.
A source familiar with the details of the emerging decision said that in order to soften criticism, the new document distinguishes between unarmed observers and armed personnel who would accompany them, but that the numbers involved remain very large. The document will also include alternatives whose purpose is the same: to leave the force in the area, even under a different deployment framework.
During the ceasefire that preceded the renewed fighting, Israel actually preferred working with the Lebanese Armed Forces, which proved more effective and will likely not be interested in the UN's coercive process to keep the ineffective forces in the area. The decision will be brought to a vote at the Security Council.
The mandate that was never fulfilled
As reported, the US and Israel decided to end UNIFIL's operations in southern Lebanon. Israel decided to join the position of the American administration, according to which the UN force deployed in southern Lebanon would end its activity after 47 years. The international force was established after Operation Litani in 1978, but in practice never prevented terrorist groups in the area from arming themselves.
UNIFIL never fulfilled its mandate to prevent Hezbollah from arming itself in southern Lebanon, contrary to what it was supposed to do under UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
UNIFIL operates under a Security Council mandate that is renewed every year in August. France is considered the force's patron, and the assessment is that it will demand in the discussions that UNIFIL continue operating.
