The UN is preparing a new peacekeeping mission in Lebanon
The UN is preparing to review the format of its peacekeeping presence in Lebanon following the expiration of UNIFIL’s current mandate at the end of 2026. The organization is already exploring options for maintaining an international presence in the region, even if the nature of the operation changes. The aim is to retain at least some of the stabilization functions in the conflict zone. This was reported by Al Arabiya, citing statements from UN officials.
On Thursday, April 23, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix stated that the organization is in the process of developing scenarios for the period following the end of UNIFIL’s mandate. “As for the post-UNIFIL period, we are currently in the process of developing these options,” Lacroix noted during a briefing in Geneva.
According to him, the Lebanese authorities are interested in maintaining an international presence, as the mission performs key functions—from monitoring the situation to facilitating communication between the parties to the conflict.
The situation in the region remains tense. The UNIFIL mission, comprising approximately 8,200 troops from 47 countries, is operating amid hostilities between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah group. Recently, there have been casualties among peacekeepers, which has further complicated the mission’s work.
Lacroix emphasized that any decisions regarding the future format of the UN presence must be made by the Security Council in New York. At the same time, he stressed that the key objective remains unchanged—maintaining stability and reducing the risks of escalation. “A long-term solution to the problem must take into account the security needs of both Lebanon and Israel,” he concluded.
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