UN delays vote on interim force in Lebanon as diplomats argue over possible withdrawal

Mission established in 1978 to patrol buffer zone between Israel and Lebanon has become flashpoint amid Gaza war

Peacekeepers march to celebrate the 47th anniversary of Unifil, in the southern Lebanese town of Naqoura on March 19. AP

The UN Security Council has delayed a vote on the future of its peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, as diplomats continue to negotiate over the future of the decades-old operation that has drawn opposition from the US and Israel.

The council is considering a French-drafted proposal that would extend the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, or Unifil, for another year while laying the groundwork for its eventual withdrawal.

The mission, established in 1978 to patrol the buffer zone between Israel and Lebanon, has become a flashpoint during the Gaza war.

UN diplomats had anticipated a vote as early as Monday, but sources said discussions over the text were continuing and that the vote is now expected on Friday.

Unifil Peacekeepers monitor precarious ceasefire in south Lebanon

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US officials indicated that the French draft did not meet their red lines, preventing the text from progressing to a formal vote.

Washington, backed by Israel, has pushed for an immediate withdrawal of the force, saying Unifil’s presence no longer reflects realities in Lebanon.

After its initial proposal was rejected, France on Monday put forward an alternative resolution to extend Unifil mandate by 18 months, until December 31, 2026, aligning with Lebanon’s needs and initiating the mission’s withdrawal in the autumn of that year.

US envoy Tom Barrack told reporters in Beirut on Tuesday that his country would approve the extension of United Nations peacekeepers' mandate in Lebanon for one more year.

He noted disapprovingly that the force cost "a billion dollars a year".

The latest French draft, seen by The National, requests Unifil to "cease its operations on 31 December 2026 and to start from this date and within one year its orderly and safe drawdown and withdrawal of its personnel, in close consultation with the Government of Lebanon."

The text underscores that the Lebanese government must assume full responsibility for security in the country’s south, with the Lebanese Armed Forces taking the lead in controlling all territory and ensuring stability.

Lebanon’s Cabinet this month charged the army with developing a plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year, a move the powerful Iran-backed group has resisted. The issue of Hezbollah’s weapons has long divided Lebanese politics and created tension with Israel.

Under the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel was meant to fully withdraw from Lebanon but has kept troops in several areas it considers strategic. It has also continued air strikes across Lebanon, including one on Monday, claiming ceasefire breaches.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Monday that Israel was “ready to support” Lebanon’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah and will implement a phased reduction of its military presence in Lebanon as a “reciprocal measure”.

The latest proposal requests that the Secretary General, by June 1, 2026, explore “options for the future implementation of Resolution 1701 (2006) following Unifil's withdrawal, including ways to enhance support for the LAF’s redeployment south of the Litani River through United Nations mechanisms.”

The multinational force's mandate ends on Sunday.