The U.N. Security Council is weighing how to monitor southern Lebanon after a peacekeeping mission ends regular operations on Dec. 31, 2026, as Lebanese officials seek to prevent military incidents from escalating.
Security Council Resolution 2790, adopted in 2025, directs the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to cease operations and begin withdrawing on that date. The withdrawal may take up to a year. During that period, the force may carry out limited duties, including protecting U.N. personnel and assisting humanitarian workers.
UNIFIL said Oct. 16 the council was considering options. Resolution 2790 asks the U.N. secretary-general to explore Blue Line monitoring and support for Lebanese army deployments south of the Litani River. It announced no date for a decision.
UNIFIL monitors developments and reports violations, according to its Oct. 16 account. The force also works with the Lebanese army, assists humanitarian missions and maintains contact with the parties to reduce tensions.
U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said Oct. 16 that Lebanese officials wanted a U.N. third party to help prevent incidents between Lebanese and Israeli forces from escalating. Resolution 2790 calls for Lebanon to become the sole security provider in the south.
France has urged an international security arrangement in southern Lebanon as UNIFIL approaches its operational cutoff. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has called for the mission’s mandate to be extended or its security duties maintained during withdrawal, his office said. He would welcome another international presence in the south if neither option is available.
UNIFIL was established in 1978. Security Council Resolution 1701 broadened its role after the 2006 war to include monitoring the cessation of hostilities and assisting Lebanese forces in the south. Its next operational deadline is Dec. 31, 2026, when the withdrawal is set to begin.
