Listen to the article
There has been a proposal to renew the mandate for the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) south of the Litani river for six months instead of one year. This is the first time — since Resolution 425 was adopted on March 19, 1978, establishing the UNIFIL forces and since Resolution 1701 was passed on August 12, 2006, strengthening the number and duties of UNIFIL — that such an issue is raised. Reports indicate that this proposal, initially communicated by Israel to the United States and subsequently shared with the members of the Security Council, was met with resistance from Lebanese officials who advocated for the continuation of UNIFIL’s mandate for a full year.
This Israeli proposal came in the context of the ongoing war in the south and discussions about the comprehensive implementation of Resolution 1701 on the day after the war ends. According to the reports, Israel sought the shorter timeframe to assess UNIFIL’s handling of Hezbollah’s military presence south of the Litani River, including its ability to move freely and access private properties. A reassessment of UNIFIL’s performance would follow at the end of these six months to determine whether the mandate should be extended again as part of the effective implementation of Resolution 1701.
Lebanon’s UN mission was informed of this proposal, leading Caretaker Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib to discuss the matter with US representative to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, during his recent visit to New York, according to the same information. Bou Habib successfully argued for the year-long renewal of UNIFIL’s mandate. He also briefed Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, and Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, asking them to raise the issue with any visiting American or French officials.
In this context, the surprise came from US envoy Amos Hochstein, who, during his recent visit to Beirut, reintroduced the proposal to renew UNIFIL’s mandate for six months. Subsequent discussions between Hochstein, Berri, Mikati, and Bou Habib emphasized the importance of a full-year extension. Lebanese official sources stated that the Lebanese side succeeded in convincing Hochstein of the soundness of this proposal, but the ultimate challenge, according to these sources, lies in ensuring that the issue does not resurface during the Security Council session that will decide on the renewal in question. Lebanon is counting on France’s role in this regard, especially since the French Foreign Minister’s visit to Beirut took place before the Security Council meeting and because France is directly involved in the mission and importance of UNIFIL, holding the largest contingent within the force.
