UN chief proposes options to keep peacekeepers in Lebanon after mandate expires

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has put forward proposals to ensure a continued UN peacekeeping presence in Lebanon beyond the current mission's mandate, which is set to expire at the end of 2026. The UN Security Council is now deliberating these options, which aim to maintain peacekeepers, especially for monitoring the Blue Line that marks the de facto border between Lebanon and Israel.

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Under all proposed options, a uniformed United Nations presence working to facilitate de-escalation, dialogue, liaison and coordination, and support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, would be necessary... towards the overarching objective of a long-term solution to the conflict.

This push for continued UN involvement comes as the region grapples with the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah war. Guterres' report to the Security Council outlines three options, involving between nearly 2,000 and over 5,500 personnel. The goal is to monitor the ceasefire, support the Lebanese armed forces, and facilitate de-escalation and dialogue towards a long-term conflict resolution.

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Recent developments have only heightened Lebanon's urgent need for continued UN and international assistance, specifically to facilitate an Israeli withdrawal on the one hand, and to enable the state to extend its authority over its entire territory on the other.

Lebanon's ambassador to the UN, Ahmad Arafa, expressed support for maintaining a UN presence, stating it is urgently needed to facilitate an Israeli withdrawal and enable the Lebanese state to extend its authority. China and Russia have also indicated support for replacing the current UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to prevent a security vacuum. However, the U.S. and Israel had previously welcomed the decision to end UNIFIL's mandate last August, reflecting differing views on the mission's effectiveness and necessity.

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As Unifil's mandate is about to expire, the Security Council must make a responsible decision to ensure the continued UN presence in Lebanon, and to prevent a security vacuum.