U.N. Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon to Wrap Up by 2026

In a significant development, the U.N. Security Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution that would bring an end to the more than four-decade-old peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL. According to the draft resolution, the mandate of UNIFIL will be terminated, and its operations will cease by the end of 2026.

The resolution comes after negotiations between the U.S. and other council members. Initially, the U.S. had been pushing for the force to be terminated within a year, but it has now agreed to a 16-month withdrawal timeline. This signals that the resolution is likely to be approved, though it remains unclear whether the U.S. will vote in favor or abstain.

The goal of the resolution is to make the Lebanese government "the sole provider of security" in southern Lebanon, north of the U.N.-drawn border with Israel known as the Blue Line. The draft also calls on Israel to withdraw its forces from north of the Blue Line.

UNIFIL was created in 1978 to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon after Israel's invasion. Its mission was later expanded following the 2006 war between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah. The multinational force has played a significant role in monitoring the security situation in the region for decades, but it has also faced criticism from both sides.