Lebanon Seeks to Keep UN Peacekeepers Despite Ineffectiveness

Lebanon is reportedly making significant efforts to retain the presence of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) beyond its scheduled end in late 2026, despite the force's 48-year mandate being largely ineffective in preventing conflicts along the Israeli border. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is leading these efforts, with support from the Arab League, whose chairman stated that UNIFIL's continuation under UN auspices is the best option for ensuring international community presence and responsibility in southern Lebanon. The United States, with Israeli backing, has decided to end UNIFIL's mission after nearly five decades, a period during which the force failed to prevent major conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as numerous abductions and escalations.

One potential reason for Lebanon's insistence on keeping UNIFIL is the perceived inability of the Lebanese army to assume full responsibility for southern Lebanon, particularly concerning the control of weapons. A pilot program where the Lebanese army was meant to enter areas vacated by the IDF in the security zone reportedly faltered, suggesting the task of governing the region is beyond their capacity. This difficulty may be prompting Lebanon to seek the continued involvement of international forces.

Another explanation for Lebanon's desire to maintain UNIFIL relates to the shifting power dynamics. Historically, there have been instances of Lebanese army cooperation with UNIFIL against Israel, such as a 2010 incident where Lebanese soldiers allegedly fired on an IDF force, using UNIFIL soldiers as a human shield. The presence of UNIFIL could be seen as a strategic advantage for the Lebanese army, providing a buffer against the superior capabilities of the IDF in any potential future conflict, as it would lack allies like Hezbollah to rely on if left alone.

Furthermore, UNIFIL has been criticized for its perceived close ties with Hezbollah, with some reports labeling the peacekeepers as Hezbollah's "best friends." The force has been accused of allowing Hezbollah to establish a significant military presence in southern Lebanon, including weapon storage and tunnel networks, while largely remaining silent on Hezbollah's actions. Despite firing over 8,500 rockets into Israel from southern Lebanon between October 2023 and the article's publication, UNIFIL reportedly did not intervene. While the decision to end UNIFIL's mission in two months seems firm, it remains to be seen if President Aoun can rally support for a new force to undertake a similar task.