France, US push rival UNIFIL plans ahead of Lebanon mandate expiry
With the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon due to expire in six weeks, France and the United States are advancing sharply different proposals for the country's future after UNIFIL's departure.
PARIS — With the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) set to expire on Dec. 31, France and the United States are advancing fundamentally different plans to prevent a security vacuum in southern Lebanon.
UNIFIL, which has been deployed in southern Lebanon since 1978 to monitor the cessation of hostilities with Israel, is set to begin winding down its mission under UN Security Council Resolution 2790. Adopted in August 2025, the resolution calls for the termination of UNIFIL’s mandate at the end of 2026, followed by the complete withdrawal of its troops from southern Lebanon by the end of 2027.
The UN force currently comprises approximately 7,500 peacekeepers, with major European contributors including Italy, Spain and France. Its annual budget stands at roughly $600 million, financed by UN member states. The US and Israel oppose extending its mandate, arguing that UNIFIL has failed to prevent Hezbollah from building up its military infrastructure and capabilities in southern Lebanon despite nearly two decades of deployment.
Competing visions
