US Rejects Extending UN Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon, Backs Lebanese Army Training

The United States has firmly opposed a French and Lebanese proposal to reconsider the termination of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon's (UNIFIL) mandate, which is set to end after a withdrawal period beginning in 2027. U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Mike Wimmer, stated that Washington does not wish to extend the mandate of a force he believes has failed, and will not repeat past mistakes. This American opposition is crucial, as the decision to end the force's operations and begin a withdrawal was already made in August of the previous year, according to Ynet.

Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, also participated in the Security Council discussion, emphasizing that UNIFIL has failed for years in its mission and did not prevent Hezbollah's armament. He asserted that the decision to end the mandate has already been made and there is no going back. A senior Israeli official added that Israel is fully coordinated with the U.S. administration, stating, "We have agreed that the U.S. will train elite units of the Lebanese army so that it can effectively control the territory."

The same Israeli official noted that Israel would not object to an Italian presence in the supervisory mechanism but would oppose any involvement from countries acting against Israel, such as England. Conversely, senior UN officials placed responsibility for the situation on Israel. The UN's acting coordinator in Beirut, Carlos Arnao, and the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, claimed that one reason Hezbollah has not disarmed is the presence of the IDF in the area, warning against creating a dangerous military vacuum.

Lebanon, with support from France and several European countries, is attempting to reverse the decision, and the French ambassador indicated he would continue to pursue a solution. UNIFIL, established in 1978 and currently comprising 10,800 soldiers and staff from 47 countries, is scheduled for complete dissolution at the end of the withdrawal period starting in 2027, at which point security responsibility will transfer to the Lebanese government.