U.S. and Israel Agree to End UNIFIL Mission in Southern Lebanon by August
Security Council vote expected as Washington and Tel Aviv cite UNIFIL's failure to prevent Hezbollah armament and rising operational costs.
Watan-Hebrew media reported on Sunday that the United States and Israel have agreed to call for the termination of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) operating in southern Lebanon, with a final decision expected at the UN Security Council in August.
According to the private Hebrew newspaper Israel Hayom, both nations have decided to end the mission of UNIFIL, which has been stationed in southern Lebanon since 1978.
The newspaper stated that “Israel has decided to align with the U.S. administration’s position calling for the end of UNIFIL’s mission, which was established following the 1978 Litani Operation.”
UNIFIL’s Mandate and Criticism from U.S. and Israel
UNIFIL was created under UN Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426, following Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon. Its original mandate included ensuring Israel’s withdrawal, restoring international peace and security, and helping the Lebanese government regain control over the area.
Although Israel fully withdrew in 2000, UNIFIL continued to monitor the border. After the 2006 war between Lebanon and Israel, the force was redeployed under Resolution 1701 to support the Lebanese Army’s deployment in the south, monitor the cessation of hostilities, and facilitate humanitarian aid to civilians.
Israel Hayom claimed that UNIFIL has “failed to prevent the rearmament of militant groups in the region throughout its mission,” which both Washington and Tel Aviv see as a failure to meet security objectives.
