Lebanon has expressed readiness to welcome any alternative international force to replace the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), as growing concern mounts over the planned withdrawal of the mission at the end of this year under a recent UN Security Council resolution.
Political and security developments in the country are accelerating, particularly regarding the future of UNIFIL, which has maintained an international presence in southern Lebanon for decades. Lebanese officials fear that the end of the mission could create a security vacuum in the south, especially in areas south of the Litani River.
President Joseph Aoun has underscored Lebanon’s openness to the deployment of a new international force to begin operations early next year, should UNIFIL’s mandate conclude as scheduled. He stressed the importance of continued international military and technical support for the Lebanese army to help maintain stability in southern Lebanon.
On the military front, a meeting of the technical military committee, known as the “mechanism,” concluded earlier with the participation of representatives from the US, French and Lebanese armies, as well as the United Nations. The talks were held without civilian representatives from either the Lebanese or Israeli sides, marking a step back from previous rounds in which civilian participation had raised hopes for more direct negotiations between Beirut and Tel Aviv.
The meeting coincided with a wave of intense Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory, further escalating tensions in the south and reinforcing Lebanese concerns over security arrangements in the event of a UNIFIL withdrawal. Officials argue that these developments heighten the need for an alternative international presence to support the Lebanese army and prevent further deterioration along the southern border.
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