Lebanon urges UN to reconsider 'premature' Unifil withdrawal

Lebanon has called on the UN to reassess its decision to end the Unifil peacekeeping mission, arguing that such a move could leave a security void. In a letter to the UN Security Council dated August 26, Lebanon's UN ambassador Ahmad Arafa stated that the mission's termination seemed "premature" given the significant changes in the security situation since March 2.

Arafa emphasized that the security landscape in Lebanon and the broader Middle East had shifted dramatically since that date, and he urged for a thorough review to prevent any adverse outcomes. The security situation in the region deteriorated sharply in March 2025 as Hezbollah and Israel resumed their conflict, marking a serious escalation in the region's turmoil.

This conflict has led to the Israeli military occupying a roughly 10km buffer zone in southern Lebanon, an area Israel claims is necessary to deter Hezbollah attacks on northern Israeli communities. Israel has reported that over 4,300 people have been killed in Lebanon due to Israeli airstrikes since March. Lebanon has consistently adhered to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which established the framework for the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, and has also supported the November 2024 cessation-of-hostilities agreement and the US-Israel-Lebanon Trilateral Framework signed on June 26.

Arafa expressed concern that the UN's current planning for Unifil's post-mission period, as outlined in a June 1 report by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, may not accurately reflect the new realities. He suggested that extending Unifil for a limited time could be the most practical solution, given the mission's operational expertise, logistical infrastructure, and broad acceptance among local communities and the Lebanese government.

Lebanon emphasized that Unifil has played a crucial role in maintaining stability in southern Lebanon, supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces and monitoring the implementation of Resolution 1701. Meanwhile, Israel has expressed opposition to the idea of maintaining a large international force in southern Lebanon after the UN peacekeeping mission concludes, arguing that the Lebanese army should assume responsibility for border security.

Danny Danon, an Israeli official, reiterated Israel's stance that the Security Council's decision to end Unifil's mandate by the end of 2026 should be honored. Unifil has been stationed in southern Lebanon since 1978, monitoring the cessation of hostilities and assisting the Lebanese army in maintaining security along the Blue Line separating Israel and Lebanon.

The UN Security Council voted in August 2025 to terminate the nearly 50-year-old peacekeeping mission on December 31, 2026, following extensive deliberations.