The Trump administration’s push to terminate the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has sparked a rift with European allies, raising critical questions about Middle East security as the mission’s mandate nears its August expiration. Established in 1978 to oversee Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon and expanded after the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, UNIFIL’s 10,000 peacekeepers have long monitored the volatile region, but the operation now faces intense scrutiny from both Washington and its critics abroad.
The Trump administration, prioritizing cuts to international commitments, views UNIFIL as an inefficient expense that fails to curb Hezbollah’s influence and delays the Lebanese Armed Forces’ full control over southern Lebanon. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, initially backed a plan to phase out UNIFIL within six months, following significant reductions in U.S. funding to the mission. This stance aligns with Israel’s long-standing call to end UNIFIL’s mandate, with critics like Sarit Zehavi of the Alma Research and Education Center arguing the force has been ineffective in disarming Hezbollah, citing discoveries of tunnels and weapons caches near UNIFIL facilities during last year’s Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
European nations, led by France and Italy, have fiercely opposed a rapid end to UNIFIL, warning that withdrawing the peacekeepers before the Lebanese army—currently at 6,000 soldiers but slated to grow to 10,000—can secure the border would create a power vacuum exploitable by Hezbollah. With support from Tom Barrack, U.S. ambassador to Turkey and envoy to Lebanon, European diplomats successfully lobbied for a one-year extension of UNIFIL’s mandate, followed by a six-month wind-down period, a compromise Israel reluctantly accepted. However, France’s draft resolution, obtained by the Associated Press, avoids a firm withdrawal date, a sticking point for U.S. support, signaling ongoing tensions as the U.N. Security Council prepares to vote by month’s end.
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Lebanese officials, including retired General Khalil Helou, emphasize UNIFIL’s role in maintaining stability, arguing that the country’s overstretched army cannot yet patrol the region alone without risking vulnerabilities, such as at the Syrian border where smuggling is rampant. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric underscored UNIFIL’s importance, noting its recent discoveries of unauthorized weapons like rocket launchers and mortar rounds, which were reported to the Lebanese army. Despite a U.S.- and France-brokered ceasefire requiring both Israel and Hezbollah to withdraw from southern Lebanon, Israel’s continued occupation of five strategic points and near-daily airstrikes highlight the fragile security situation.
Critics on both sides have long questioned UNIFIL’s effectiveness. Hezbollah supporters accuse the mission of colluding with Israel, occasionally attacking peacekeepers, while Israel claims UNIFIL ignores Hezbollah’s military buildup. As financial pressures loom, with potential U.N. budget cuts, one U.S. official suggested reducing UNIFIL’s troop numbers while enhancing technological monitoring capabilities as a compromise. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti reiterated that the mission awaits the Security Council’s decision, ready to assist in implementing its mandate.
The debate over UNIFIL reflects broader U.S.-European divides, evident in disputes over Gaza, Ukraine, trade, and technology. As the Security Council vote approaches, the outcome will shape not only Lebanon’s security but also the transatlantic alliance’s ability to navigate competing priorities in a volatile region.
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