UNIFIL confirms it will start leaving south Lebanon when mandate ends on Dec. 31

UNIFIL confirmed it will begin withdrawing from south Lebanon when its mandate ends on December 31, 2026, per Security Council resolution 2790. Lebanese officials warned of a vacuum in the south, where Israel maintains a security zone. The peacekeeping force will continue operations until then.

UNIFIL confirmed Thursday that it will begin leaving south Lebanon when its mandate ends on December 31, 2026, despite Lebanese calls for an extension. The UN Security Council voted last year not to renew the nearly 50-year-old mandate under resolution 2790. Until then, peacekeepers from 45 countries will continue monitoring, liaising with parties, supporting the Lebanese army, and facilitating humanitarian missions. The Security Council is considering options for future monitoring along the Blue Line. Lebanese officials have warned that UNIFIL's departure could leave a vacuum in the south, where Israel maintains a self-declared security zone. UNIFIL was created after Israel's 1978 invasion and expanded after the 2006 war to prevent Hezbollah military infrastructure. Israel has long accused UNIFIL of failing to prevent Hezbollah's border buildup, which enabled the October 8, 2023 attack. A November 2024 ceasefire deal required the Lebanese military to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure, but progress has stalled. The article's framing relies on Israeli criticism and Lebanese warnings without direct quotes from Lebanese officials.