Soldiers from the Spanish contingent of UNIFIL, on April 8, 2026 in the city of Marjayoun in southern Lebanon. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/L'Orient-Le Jour)
Extending the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which expires at the end of 2026, is the best option for Beirut, President Joseph Aoun said Tuesday. But as Lebanon prepares to lobby internationally for such a scenario, it faces a veto from both the United States and Israel that are pushing for UNIFIL to be replaced by a multinational force whose details remain unclear. With the aim of strengthening Lebanon’s official position on the matter, 86 MPs, or two-thirds of Parliament, signed a petition calling for the U.N. presence in southern Lebanon to be maintained. Two major parties, however, have not: the Lebanese Forces (LF) and Hezbollah.“It is important to show that Lebanon remains committed to international institutions and wants to keep the south under the watch of the United Nations, as the only...
Extending the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which expires at the end of 2026, is the best option for Beirut, President Joseph Aoun said Tuesday. But as Lebanon prepares to lobby internationally for such a scenario, it faces a veto from both the United States and Israel that are pushing for UNIFIL to be replaced by a multinational force whose details remain unclear. With the aim of strengthening Lebanon’s official position on the matter, 86 MPs, or two-thirds of Parliament, signed a petition calling for the U.N. presence in southern Lebanon to be maintained. Two major parties, however, have not: the Lebanese Forces (LF) and Hezbollah.“It is important to show that Lebanon remains committed to international institutions and wants to keep the south under the watch of the United Nations, as the only...
