Italy wants to keep forces south of Litani after UNIFIL withdraws: Defense minister

BEIRUT — Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told President Joseph Aoun on Monday that Italy wishes to maintain forces south of the Litani River after the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)'s withdrawal in 2027, adding that other European countries intend to take the same stance.

Crosetto's comments, reported by the state-run National News Agency (NNA), were made during a meeting between Guido and Aoun at the Baabda Presidential Palace. Crosetto is visiting Lebanon to inspect the Italian unit serving within UNIFIL.

As UNIFIL, deployed in southern Lebanon since 1978, is set to begin its withdrawal on Dec. 31, 2026, with a complete departure by the end of 2027, the Italian defense minister said that Italy wishes to maintain forces south of the Litani River after the peacekeeping force's withdrawal.

He said that this step aims to "support the Lebanese Army in carrying out its duties in the south, as Italy considers that the security of Lebanon, the region, and the Mediterranean is achieved through strengthening the role of the Lebanese Army and providing it with the necessary capabilities.”

Meanwhile, Aoun told Crosetto that Lebanon "welcomes the participation of Italy and other European countries in any force that would replace UNIFIL in the South after the completion of its withdrawal in 2027, in order to assist the Lebanese Army in maintaining security and stability along Lebanon’s southern border, following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the hills and territories they occupy."

Read more

Yanouh strike averted: Lebanese Army intervention draws broad political praise

The president added that "the option of negotiations adopted by Lebanon, for which a former ambassador was tasked with heading the Lebanese delegation to the mechanism committee, aims to halt hostilities, achieve an Israeli withdrawal, secure the return of detainees held in Israel, and enable southern residents to return to their villages and properties."

He also stressed “the importance of providing support to the army, whose duties are not limited to the borders but extend across all of Lebanon."

On Dec. 3, Aoun appointed Simon Karam, Lebanon’s former ambassador to Washington, as the civilian and diplomatic representative at the meetings of the November 2024 cease-fire monitoring committee.

Until now, this body has been composed exclusively of military members. The move was intended to send a clear message to the international community, particularly the United States, about Lebanon's willingness to engage in negotiations with Israel, which has threatened to escalate if Hezbollah is not disarmed quickly.

Regarding these negotiations, the Crosetto said that the country “continues its contacts with the aim of consolidating stability in the south and is monitoring the developments of the negotiations initiated by Lebanon.

"We will work to ensure that these negotiations produce tangible results, as it is in no one’s interest for tensions in the south to persist, and Israel must fully understand this," he said.

He added that Italian assistance to the army will continue in accordance with an agreement reached during a meeting with Lebanon's defense minister, Michel Menassa, in Menassa's office in Yarzeh earlier on Monday.

During his meeting with Menassa, Crosetto affirmed “his country’s firm commitment to supporting the Lebanese military, whether directly or through the Italian unit serving within UNIFIL," NNA reported.

He also stressed that “Italy will remain alongside Lebanon and the security of the South, whether through UNIFIL or even after its mandate ends at the end of 2026, regardless of who assumes responsibilities afterward or the sources of funding and under whichever flag, whether that of the United Nations, the European Union or the Italian Republic.”

Crosetto also expressed his country’s intention to participate actively in the upcoming conference to support the Lebanese Army, scheduled to take place in Paris next February, noting that “Italy is currently involved in the preparations for this conference and considers its success a priority.”