The United Nations Security Council is preparing to determine the future of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon as the peacekeeping mission approaches the end of its final mandate. UNIFIL spokesperson Dany Ghafri stated that the council is evaluating multiple options to ensure the continued implementation of Resolution 1701, potentially transitioning the UN presence into a role focused on monitoring, observation, and assisting the Lebanese army.
Under Security Council Resolution 2790, UNIFIL’s operational mandate will officially conclude on December 31, 2026, initiating a gradual and coordinated withdrawal throughout 2027. Ghafri confirmed that the mission is drafting handover plans with troop-contributing nations and the Lebanese government. In response to the planned departure, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and various lawmakers have warned of a looming security vacuum in southern Lebanon, urging the UN to reconsider the withdrawal or establish an alternative international legal framework to support the Lebanese army and local residents.
Addressing the situation on the ground, Ghafri emphasized that the operational environment has changed radically, with the Israeli army occupying significant portions of UNIFIL’s designated area. He confirmed that UNIFIL monitors the ongoing presence of Israeli forces north of the Blue Line, explicitly identifying this as a violation of Resolution 1701. The peacekeeping mission has repeatedly demanded an Israeli withdrawal while documenting extensive demolitions and infrastructure damage that severely complicate the safe return of displaced civilians.
Despite the impending withdrawal, Ghafri reiterated that the principles of Resolution 1701 remain the foundation for any sustainable peace. The resolution requires the extension of Lebanese state authority, the disarmament of non-state armed groups, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. While UNIFIL has no designated role in the recent US-mediated framework agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv, Ghafri noted that the agreement's objectives fall within the parameters of Resolution 1701, and the UN force stands ready to assist Lebanese authorities in facilitating the transition and securing the designated pilot zones.
