UN Considers New Lebanon Mission as UNIFIL Mandate Ends
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
The United Nations is proposing a new mission for Lebanon to replace UNIFIL, whose mandate ends December 31, focusing on monitoring, reporting, and humanitarian aid. Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, are seeking continued international support to prevent a security vacuum in the south. European officials, like Kaja Kallas, also back an international presence, with Germany suggesting an EU force as a potential alternative. The UN Security Council will decide on the future arrangements for international presence in southern Lebanon.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- The UN is considering a new mission for Lebanon as UNIFIL's mandate expires on December 31.
- The proposed mission would focus on monitoring, reporting, humanitarian aid, and supporting the Lebanese army.
- Lebanese officials are seeking continued international support to avoid a security vacuum in the south.
- European officials support an international presence and warn against a security vacuum.
- Germany has proposed an EU force as a potential alternative to UNIFIL.
- The UN Security Council will decide the future of international presence in southern Lebanon.
The United Nations is exploring new arrangements for its continued presence in Lebanon as the mandate for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expires at the end of the year. The proposed plan involves establishing a new UN mission focused on monitoring field developments, preparing reports, providing humanitarian aid, and supporting the Lebanese army.
The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, revealed that the organization has presented several concepts for its future presence in Lebanon to the UN Security Council. These concepts were developed in coordination with Lebanese authorities and aim to create a mission with different tasks than UNIFIL, concentrating on situation monitoring, documentation, reporting, humanitarian support, and maintaining specific capabilities to assist the Lebanese army.
The Lebanese government is keen to prevent a security vacuum in southern Lebanon following UNIFIL's departure. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated in August that extending UNIFIL's mission is Beirut's preferred option, but the country is open to alternative formulas for an international force in the south if an extension is not feasible. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Foreign Minister Youssef Rizk have also emphasized the necessity of continued international presence and support for stability in the region.
European officials have expressed support for maintaining an international presence in southern Lebanon and warned of potential security repercussions if UNIFIL's mission ends without a suitable replacement. Kaja Kallas, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, indicated that EU member states do not want a security vacuum in the south and support extending the UN force's mandate. German Foreign Minister suggested the possibility of an EU force taking on a mission in Lebanon to avoid a security gap.
UNIFIL has been deployed in southern Lebanon since 1978, comprising approximately 7,500 soldiers from nearly 50 countries tasked with monitoring the Blue Line and supporting UN Security Council resolutions. As its mandate concludes on December 31, the Security Council's decision on the proposed new mission or an alternative arrangement will determine the future of international presence in southern Lebanon amidst ongoing regional tensions.
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