United Nations, August 29 (HS):

The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to grant a final mandate extension to its long-standing peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, setting December 31, 2026, as the cutoff date. After that, a phased withdrawal of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) will begin, with full responsibility for security handed over to the Lebanese government.

The decision came Thursday with the adoption of a French-drafted resolution. It stipulates that UNIFIL’s drawdown will take place over the year following its expiration, ensuring a “safe and orderly” exit. Established in 1978, UNIFIL patrols Lebanon’s southern border with Israel and saw its mandate significantly expanded after the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war to help the Lebanese Armed Forces curb armed groups.

Yet the mission has long faced criticism, particularly due to Hezbollah’s growing influence. Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon dismissed repeated extensions as “nothing more than an illusion,” arguing that UNIFIL had failed to prevent Hezbollah from emerging as a formidable regional force.

The United States also made clear this would be the mission’s final extension. Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea said, “Lebanon’s security dynamics have changed dramatically over the past year. It is time for Beirut to assume greater responsibility.”

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, however, welcomed the resolution, noting that it reiterated calls for Israel to withdraw from five Lebanese territories it continues to occupy. He framed the move as a step toward enhancing national sovereignty while also underlining Lebanon’s security concerns.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar