US sets condition for the day after: This is how it wants to change UNIFIL

The US is conditioning the extension of UNIFIL's mandate on a substantial change in its role, demanding an alternative international force to oversee the dismantling of Hezbollah's infrastructure. According to Lebanese reports, Washington has made clear to Beirut that there is no room for discussion on extending the mandate in its current format, and that Lebanon must submit its own proposal for an alternative force, including defining its powers. The current mandate expires at the end of 2026.

The US is conditioning the extension of the UNIFIL mandate in Lebanon on a substantial change in its role, demanding an alternative international force to oversee the dismantling of Hezbollah's infrastructure and prevent its rehabilitation. According to reports in Lebanese media, Washington has made clear to Beirut that there is no room for discussion on extending the mandate in its current format, and that Lebanon must itself submit a proposal for an alternative force, including defining its powers and mode of operation. It was also reported that Washington currently objects to the idea of deploying a European force that would include French soldiers. The current UNIFIL mandate is set to expire on December 31, 2026, after the Security Council determined this would be its final extension. The force currently includes about 7,500 military personnel from 46 countries. France and Italy have already raised ideas for an alternative multinational force, but according to Lebanese reports, there is still no agreed-upon formula. The article relies on reports from Lebanese sources, not on a new official statement from the US administration.