Lebanon Seeks UNIFIL Mandate Extension Despite Force's Failure to Curb Hezbollah

Lebanon's "first option" is to extend the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), according to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Speaking to a delegation of lawmakers, Aoun stressed that UNIFIL's presence is crucial for stability in the country's south, with the current mandate set to expire at the end of the year.

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If the mandate is not extended, the second option would be to adopt a formula ensuring the continued presence of international forces in the south, within an appropriate legal framework, alongside and in coordination with the Lebanese Army.

Should the mandate not be extended, Aoun outlined a secondary plan: "to adopt a formula ensuring the continued presence of international forces in the south, within an appropriate legal framework, alongside and in coordination with the Lebanese Army." This indicates Lebanon's desire to maintain an international presence, even if UNIFIL's specific mandate changes.

However, UNIFIL has long been a subject of criticism, particularly for its perceived failure to act against Hezbollah's military buildup in southern Lebanon. This inaction stands in contrast to UN Resolution 1701, adopted in August 2006, which called for the peacekeepers to help the Lebanese Armed Forces establish an area free of armed personnel, assets, and weapons other than those belonging to the Lebanese government and UNIFIL itself, between the Blue Line and the Litani River.

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Pulling the plug on UNIFIL without a robust international force in place would effectively abandon millions of Lebanese civilians to an uncertain and potentially disastrous fate.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has also reportedly conveyed Lebanon's desire for an extension to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who expressed understanding for the need to maintain the UN's work. Human rights organizations, like Human Rights Watch, have also voiced concerns, with UN director Louis Charbonneau stating that ending UNIFIL without a robust replacement could "abandon millions of Lebanese civilians to an uncertain and potentially disastrous fate." Charbonneau added that while UN missions may not be a lasting solution, the peacekeepers serve as a vital deterrent against civilian attacks and human rights abuses.

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UN missions may not be a lasting solution, but the peacekeepers are a crucial deterrent against attacks on civilians and human rights abuses.