The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, is preparing to end its field operations in southern Lebanon on 31 December 2026, after a mission lasting nearly five decades, followed by a gradual withdrawal over a year. The approaching end of the mission raises questions about which party could take over its roles, amid Israel’s continued control of parts of Lebanese territory.
The force is ending its work while Israel controls about 600 square kilometres of Lebanese territory, equivalent to 6% of the country’s area. Israel’s field control extends from Naqoura in the west to Mount Hermon in the east, passing through the outskirts of Nabatieh, while the towns of Western Zoutar, Frun and Sarifa have become open areas of confrontation.
Security Council decision ends UNIFIL mission
The UN Security Council decided to end the mission in 2025 under US and Israeli pressure. The decision ends the work of a mission deployed since 1978 under international resolutions 425 and 426, before its presence in southern Lebanon was strengthened under Resolution 1701, issued in 2006. The mission’s termination is based on Resolution 2790, unanimously adopted by the Security Council on 28 August 2025.
The resolution calls for UNIFIL operations to end at the end of December 2026, followed by a gradual withdrawal over a year, and tasks the UN secretary-general with presenting options for arrangements after the withdrawal. The handover of the force’s positions to the Lebanese army faces an obstacle on the ground, as about half of UNIFIL’s positions are in areas controlled by Israel.
The mission’s commander, Major General Diodato Abagnara, described the handover of these positions as “very difficult”, raising questions about the ability of any subsequent force to operate within an area where the mission’s positions are under Israeli control.
Trilateral agreement redraws southern arrangements
The arrangements are further complicated by the trilateral framework agreement signed by Lebanon, Israel and the United States on 26 June 2026. The agreement makes no reference to Resolution 1701 and does not provide for a role for UNIFIL or a UN force to replace it, as it is based on disarming Hezbollah in exchange for a gradual Israeli withdrawal.
This force would have monitoring capacity extending to and north of the Litani River. The second option proposes a force of about 3,300 personnel, comprising 285 observers and two infantry battalions of 750 soldiers each, in addition to a reserve of 450 personnel and support units.
Its deployment would focus on the area between the Blue Line and the Litani River. The third option comprises a smaller force of about 2,000 personnel, including 215 observers, two light battalions of 450 soldiers each and a rapid-response force of 350 personnel, as well as a minimum number of enabling personnel. This proposal would not give the force the ability to separate the two sides.
International disagreement stalls formation of alternative force
But implementing any of the three options faces political obstacles. A study by the UK House of Commons concluded that creating a new force would require authorisation from the Security Council and could face a US veto preventing its formation. The United States and Israel oppose creating an alternative force, and Israeli envoy Danny Danon said its presence could give Hezbollah “a platform to rebuild its strength”.
China and Russia, by contrast, support maintaining a UN presence in southern Lebanon and reviewing the decision to end UNIFIL’s mission. At European level, France and Italy are leading an alliance to form a multinational force, while the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said that ten member states were ready to contribute.
The European Union is moving towards establishing a mission to train the Lebanese army, rather than providing a direct replacement for UNIFIL, while Turkey has also expressed readiness to take part in any subsequent arrangement. Military expert Brigadier General Hassan Jouni believes the immediate field impact of UNIFIL’s absence will be limited because it does not carry out combat missions.
But he said its main value lies in monitoring and documentation, as well as the moral deterrence it provides by recording violations and presenting them to the international community. Since its deployment began in 1978, 346 UNIFIL personnel have been killed, the highest human toll suffered by a UN mission, according to the United Nations.
The mission’s operations are ending while the arrangements proposed to succeed it remain linked to the positions of international powers, and as Israel continues to control areas within the operational zone of any force that may deploy later.
