The United Nations reported on Thursday that it is "working on" maintaining its presence in Lebanon after the UNIFIL mandate expires at the end of this year. This statement was made by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, who confirmed that the Lebanese government is "very clear in its desire to keep the UN presence."
Established in 1978, UNIFIL was tasked with peacekeeping between Lebanon and Israel, but it now finds itself caught in the conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. The force consists of approximately 8,200 troops from 47 countries, and it has lost five of its soldiers in recent days, including two French and three Indonesian personnel.
Details of the Situation
Tensions in Lebanon escalated on March 2 when Hezbollah, backed by Iran, began launching rockets at Israel in response to the killing of Ali Khamenei, the Iranian Supreme Leader, in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes. Lacroix noted in a press conference in Geneva that any future UN presence in southern Lebanon must be determined by the Security Council in New York.
The Security Council has requested options for the UN's presence following the end of the UNIFIL mandate, with recommendations due by June 1. While Lacroix did not specify the available options, he indicated that any future presence would likely be smaller than the current UNIFIL.
Background & Context
Since its inception, UNIFIL has been responsible for supporting humanitarian efforts, but it is also capable of deploying its forces to ensure that its operational area is not used for hostile actions. UNIFIL's mandate has been renewed annually and is set to expire on December 31.
At the end of August, under pressure from the United States and Israel, the Security Council decided to schedule a withdrawal of the forces in 2027, which some viewed as a premature step. Lacroix confirmed that there are "a number of capabilities" that Beirut wishes to retain, such as monitoring, reporting, and communication.
Impact & Consequences
These developments come at a time when Lebanon has experienced a relative lull since last Friday, as the war between Israel and Hezbollah has ceased, resulting in over 2,400 deaths in Lebanon. Lacroix affirmed that UNIFIL is "ready to do more to support the Lebanese army and government in any actions they may take to enhance the disarmament process of armed groups," emphasizing that "this will be difficult" due to "Hezbollah's resistance" and the "limitations of the Lebanese army's capabilities."
Lebanon is preparing for a second round of talks in Washington, where Beirut will request an extension of the ceasefire for one month, according to a Lebanese source.
Regional Significance
These developments are of great importance to the Arab region, reflecting the ongoing tensions between regional and international powers in the Middle East. Maintaining a UN presence in Lebanon could contribute to stabilizing the security situation in the region, especially amid rising tensions between Iran and its allies on one side and Israel on the other.
In conclusion, the future of the UN's presence in Lebanon hangs in the balance of the Security Council's decisions, at a time when the need for regional stability and conflict de-escalation is increasingly urgent.