UN force in Lebanon continues operations as Security Council weighs next steps

LONDON — The UN Interim Force in Lebanon said on Tuesday that it is continuing its operations as the Security Council considers options for the period after its mandate expires on December 31.

"As the Security Council considers options for the post-UNIFIL period, our work on the ground continues," the mission said in a statement, according to Arab News.

The mission said it remained committed to its duties under Security Council Resolution 1701. These include monitoring developments, reporting violations, maintaining contact with the parties, supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces and facilitating humanitarian missions.

The Security Council voted in August 2025 to end the mission's mandate on December 31, 2026. A gradual, coordinated withdrawal is to follow over the next year, according to Arab News.

Lebanese leaders have called for UN peacekeepers to remain as a buffer between Israeli and Lebanese forces, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN undersecretary-general for peace operations, said on Friday, according to Arab News. Lacroix warned that incidents along the Blue Line, the UN-designated line marking Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon, could spiral out of control.

The warning came amid continued Israeli airstrikes, artillery fire and ground operations in southern Lebanon. The UN has also reported restrictions on peacekeepers' movements there.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the mission recorded Israeli airstrikes, heavy artillery and mortar fire, and military engineering activity from Friday through Sunday. He urged all parties to avoid actions that could escalate tensions. Dujarric also said Israeli tanks blocked a UNIFIL supply convoy on Friday and that roadblocks forced the cancellation of patrols. The mission stressed that peacekeepers must be able to operate safely and without obstruction.

The report does not say which option the Security Council is considering for the period after the mandate ends. It also does not give casualty figures for the reported incidents, and it does not say whether Israel has responded to the criticism of its operations.

Background

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, was established in 1978 after Israel invaded southern Lebanon. The Security Council significantly expanded its mandate under Resolution 1701 following the 2006 war.

The Security Council's August 2025 vote set the end date for the mission. The mandate expires on December 31, 2026, and the withdrawal is due to follow over the year after that, according to Arab News.