United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix is expected in Beirut on Wednesday for a multi-day visit focused on the renewal of the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) mandate, two months ahead of the UN Security Council’s scheduled session.
According to informed sources, the visit could pave the way for potential changes to UNIFIL’s rules of engagement or even an expansion of its mandate, in light of rising regional instability following the outbreak of the Israel-Iran conflict.
Lacroix’s trip, planned before the conflict began, includes high-level meetings with Lebanese officials. He is set to meet Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Tuesday afternoon to address ongoing cooperation and operational challenges facing the peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.
In addition to political consultations, Lacroix will travel south to visit UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura. He is also expected to inspect Lebanese Army barracks in the coastal city of Tyre, highlighting ongoing collaboration between UN peacekeepers and the Lebanese Armed Forces.
This visit comes at a critical time, as discussions intensify within the international community over the future scope and structure of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon. Any potential changes to UNIFIL’s mandate could have significant implications for security dynamics along the Blue Line, particularly as tensions remain high across the broader Middle East.
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