"We must not repeat the serious mistake with UNIFIL": UN to discuss force alternatives in southern Lebanon

The UN Security Council is set to convene tomorrow, Friday, for closed consultations regarding Lebanon, focusing on mechanisms to replace the UNIFIL force following the conclusion of its operations. According to "Asharq Bloomberg," the discussion will involve only Council members, excluding representatives from Israel or Lebanon.

In August of last year, the Security Council adopted Resolution 2790, deciding to gradually phase out UNIFIL's operations. The force's operational mandate was extended until December 31, 2026. Since then, the regional reality has shifted: Hezbollah's attack on Israel on March 2 triggered the war in Lebanon, which concluded with direct negotiations and the signing of a tripartite framework agreement.

Although Lebanon requested an extension of the UNIFIL mandate during the Lebanese president's visit to Washington, a senior State Department official clarified that the US opposes this. He emphasized that any new international presence in southern Lebanon must be tied to the practical goals of the tripartite framework: disarming Hezbollah, strengthening the Lebanese army, and establishing the sovereignty of the Beirut government.

The official harshly criticized UNIFIL's performance:

"Seven rounds of fighting occurred on its watch, and Hezbollah built a vast military infrastructure near its positions. At times, it even exploited the proximity to peacekeeping forces to protect its infrastructure or operations. We are not interested in replacing one open-ended and ineffective mission with another."

Washington views the tripartite framework as an opportunity for performance-based progress toward long-term security. "With the end of UNIFIL's operations, we expect the framework to be implemented, rather than creating an unlimited mediation mechanism that perpetuates an unresolved situation," the official stated.

Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, stated:

"We support the implementation of the Security Council's decision to end the UNIFIL mandate at the end of the calendar year and oppose the deployment of other international forces. We must not repeat the serious mistake made with UNIFIL. The Lebanese army will be deployed in the area in accordance with direct negotiations between the parties. Proposed alternatives will not contribute to regional stability; on the contrary, they may provide Hezbollah with a platform to rebuild its strength."