UN peacekeeping chief in Lebanon says smooth transition is critical before pull-out
UNIFIL says more than half of its posts lie in areas now controlled by Israeli troops, complicating a handover to Lebanese forces.
- On Saturday, Major General Diodato Abagnara of Italy warned that ensuring Lebanese troops and UN agencies assume UNIFIL's tasks before the force's year-end withdrawal is critical to maintaining stability in southern Lebanon.
- The Security Council ordered UNIFIL to begin withdrawing at the end of 2026 following a new war that erupted between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in March, intensifying the force's operational demands.
- Abagnara acknowledged it could be "very difficult" to hand over UNIFIL posts to Lebanese troops, as more than half lie within areas now controlled by Israeli forces, including sectors near Mansouri.
- Diplomats worry UNIFIL's departure will mean an end to the UN's "eyes and ears" in southern Lebanon, while the force currently provides security escorts for humanitarian aid convoys to encircled towns.
- As a US-backed plan for the Lebanese army to take control of southern Lebanon has stalled, other countries are discussing a new multinational mission, though the mandate remains unclear as year-end approaches.
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18 Articles
UN peacekeeping chief in Lebanon says smooth transition is critical before pull-out
The head of United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon said on Saturday it was critical to ensure other UN agencies and Lebanese troops could assume the tasks carried out by the force before it begins withdrawing at the end of this year.
Lebanon pushes to retain UN presence in the south
Lebanon is stepping up a political and diplomatic drive to maintain a UN presence in the south while rallying support for its army, as Beirut and Paris push to revisit the deadline to end UNIFIL’s mission. Beirut is treating that issue separately from proposals for a European initiative to support the military. Beirut insists on UN presence An informed source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the proposed European force “is being discussed on a separate…
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon is due to end its operations on December 31, after 48 years of deployment. Lebanon authorities and members of the UN Security Council believe that an international presence must be maintained.
Lebanon is intensifying political and diplomatic efforts to maintain a UN presence in the south and garner support for its own forces. Beirut and Paris are pressuring Lebanon to reconsider the end date of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission. Beirut is treating this issue separately from the proposed European initiative for military support. Beirut insists on a UN presence. A source told Asharq al-Awsat that the proposed …
Lebanon is intensifying political and diplomatic action to preserve a United Nations presence in the south of the country, while mobilizing international support for its armed forces. Beirut and Paris push in these hours to reconsider the deadline set for the conclusion of the UNIFIL mission. The official line of government clearly separates [...] The article Lebanon intensifies diplomatic pressure to maintain the UN presence in the south comes …
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