Lebanon seeks UNIFIL mandate extension over risk of vacuum in south — Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanon has stepped up diplomatic contacts seeking an extension of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which is due to expire at the end of the year. Beirut fears a security vacuum in the south of the country, as there is no agreement on an international structure that could replace the UN mission, Asharq Al-Awsat reports.
Talks with France, Jordan and the United States
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun raised the issue during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Paris. According to a ministerial source cited by the publication, both leaders share Beirut’s concerns and promised to ask US President Donald Trump to support extending UNIFIL’s mandate for a period of six months to one year.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is expected to discuss the issue during meetings in New York, where he is leading the Lebanese delegation at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, and later in Washington with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to the publication, extending UNIFIL’s work could help implement the framework agreement and expand pilot zones where the Lebanese army could deploy with the mission’s support.
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Seeking an international replacement
UNIFIL commander Major General Diodato Abagnara also warned about the problem of replacing the mission. He said that more than half of UNIFIL positions in southern Lebanon are under Israeli control and questioned which body would take over the UN force’s functions.
According to a European source cited by Asharq Al-Awsat, European Union countries are preparing a proposal by the end of October to maintain an international presence in southern Lebanon. It would accompany a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces if Washington cannot be persuaded to extend UNIFIL’s mandate. Lebanon insists that any replacement operate under UN auspices rather than be limited to the Mechanism committee, in which, according to the publication, the United States predominates.
Beirut also demands that Israel leave the Ali al-Taher hills and hand them over to the Lebanese army. According to the ministerial source, the Israeli side does not agree to this and wants to move the issue to the eighth round of talks, which could for the third time take place in Rome. The meeting date has not yet been set.
