Italy Seeks to Keep Troops in Lebanon After UN Mission Ends

Italy has signaled its intention to maintain a military presence in Lebanon even after the United Nations peacekeeping mission there concludes at the end of 2027, according to an announcement by the Italian Defense Ministry on Monday.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said that Italy plans to continue playing a supportive role in Lebanon once the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, comes to an end. Writing on the social media platform X, Crosetto stressed that Italy remains committed to an international presence aimed at supporting stability in the country.

Asked whether this would involve keeping Italian troops on the ground, a spokesperson for the Defense Ministry confirmed that this was indeed the intention.

Crosetto highlighted the central role of the Lebanese Armed Forces in maintaining stability, not only within Lebanon but across the wider region. He added that Italy is working to ensure ongoing diplomatic talks translate into concrete outcomes and that no party benefits from renewed instability in southern Lebanon.

Italy currently has 1,099 soldiers deployed in Lebanon, making it the second-largest contributor to UNIFIL after Indonesia, which has 1,233 troops on the ground. Italian officers have led the UN mission five times over the past two decades, underlining Rome’s long-standing involvement in peacekeeping efforts in the region.

The announcement comes amid continued international discussions over the future security architecture of southern Lebanon, as the end of the UN peacekeeping mandate approaches.