Unifil

Lebanon and the Arab League are striving to prevent the withdrawal of UNIFIL forces, despite a US-backed plan to end the mission by late 2026 amid persistent security challenges.

France and Lebanon are pushing to extend UNIFIL's peacekeeping mandate in southern Lebanon past 2026, drawing strong opposition from Israel as international diplomats debate post-conflict security arrangements.

As the UN prepares to end UNIFIL's mandate in southern Lebanon by late 2026, the historic city of Tyre faces a major economic reckoning alongside security concerns, having relied on peacekeepers for decades.

The issue of dismantling the peacekeeping force was raised again in the Security Council, with France responding to Lebanon's request and demanding the cancellation of the decision made last year. The US strongly opposed: "We will not repeat the mistakes of the past." The interim UN coordinator in Beirut claimed: Hezbollah is not disarming - because of Israel. Foreign Minister Raje, a rival of...

The UN Security Council will discuss alternatives to the international force in Lebanon tomorrow. The US opposes extending the mandate, while Israel opposes the deployment of new forces. Representatives from Israel and Lebanon will not participate in the discussion.

Lebanese sources indicate that the lack of a verification mechanism is delaying the expansion of pilot zones for IDF withdrawal. Lebanese Army Commander Rudolph Hikal is in Rome to discuss the mechanism, international force composition, and the future of UNIFIL.

The newspaper "Al-Akhbar," affiliated with Hezbollah, reported that Joseph Aoun and Najib Mikati are working to promote a military cooperation agreement with the European Union instead of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. At the same time, "Nidaa Al-Watan" reported that Israel recently carried out covert operations in the Ali al-Tahir ridge area.

The President of Lebanon has called for the extension of the UNIFIL mandate in southern Lebanon, contrary to emerging agreements. He stated that the international presence is vital for regional stability and helps residents remain in their homes.

Twenty years after the Second Lebanon War, Resolution 1701 is identified primarily with the failure to disarm Hezbollah. However, alongside the failure, it also created 17 years of quiet – and the lesson from it is more relevant than ever.

The dismantling of UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force, leaves a security vacuum in southern Lebanon that the Turkish president intends to fill. Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced plans to deploy troops to the Israeli border as part of a new security initiative.

Fighters of the 401st Brigade and the Yahalom unit continue to strike Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon. An underground headquarters, measuring approximately 55 meters in length, was located and destroyed.

The mechanism for verifying Hezbollah's demilitarization is at the center of discussions. Beirut wants the process managed via the US or UNIFIL. Lebanese government sources describe August as a 'decisive turning point' for security in the south.