Amid US stress, vote extends peacekeeping mission however then requires ‘orderly and protected drawdown and withdrawal’.
Printed On 28 Aug 2025
The United Nations Safety Council has voted to increase the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon till the top of 2026 however to then terminate the mission in an “orderly and protected drawdown and withdrawal” over the next yr.
The unanimous vote on Thursday got here simply earlier than the mandate for the UN Interim Pressure in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was on account of expire on Sunday and as america and its shut ally Israel have more and more pushed for the mission’s termination.
UNIFIL was initially created to supervise the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon after Israel’s 1978 invasion, and its mandate has been renewed yearly since then.
The mission was expanded after the 2006 struggle between Israel and Hezbollah with proponents saying it stays necessary to sustaining a demilitarised buffer between the 2 sides.
The accredited decision mentioned UNIFIL will proceed its operations till December 2026, and it will then start withdrawing its 10,800 army and civilian personnel and tools. That’s to occur in session with the Lebanese authorities.
The decision additional goals to make the Lebanese authorities “the only real supplier of safety” in southern Lebanon north of the UN-drawn border with Israel, generally known as the Blue Line, whereas calling on Israel to withdraw its forces.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has pushed for an finish to UNIFIL since taking workplace in January and has already overseen cuts in US funding to the power.
Israel has lengthy accused UNIFIL of failing to stop threats posed by Hezbollah and has more and more pushed for the top of its mission since cross-border combating escalated within the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assaults on Israel and the beginning of Israel’s struggle on Gaza.
All through its newest floor invasion of Lebanon, which started in October final yr, Israel has been repeatedly accused of attacking UNIFIL positions and injuring peacekeepers.
Regardless of a November ceasefire, Israel has repeatedly struck targets in Lebanon and has maintained boots on the bottom in some strategic positions.
Thursday’s vote got here because the US has been pushing a plan together with Lebanon’s authorities to disarm Hezbollah. The group has rejected the prospect, citing Israel’s continued presence in Lebanon.
