Israel Opposes Extending UNIFIL Mandate or Replacing It with Other International Forces in South Lebanon

Israel has drawn a firm red line regarding the future of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon, insisting that its mandate not be extended beyond its scheduled end in December 2026, nor replaced by any other international force. This stance was reported by Israeli media and comes ahead of a closed-door United Nations Security Council meeting convened to discuss the deteriorating situation in Lebanon and the post-UNIFIL scenario.

UNIFIL was established following the 2006 Lebanon War as part of a ceasefire agreement, and its current mandate is set to expire at the end of 2026. While France and several European countries advocate for maintaining UNIFIL's presence in the region, Israel demands full implementation of the Security Council's decision to end the mission.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, strongly criticized proposals to deploy alternative international forces in southern Lebanon. He emphasized that Israel's experience with UNIFIL does not justify repeating the same approach, labeling it a serious mistake. Danon stated, "We support implementing the Security Council's decision to end UNIFIL's mandate by the end of this calendar year. We oppose deploying other international forces in the area."

He further explained that the Lebanese army should be deployed in the region as part of ongoing direct negotiations between the parties. Danon warned that alternative proposals could undermine regional stability and potentially enable Hezbollah to rebuild its strength, as it allegedly did during UNIFIL's tenure.