Lebanon is awaiting a draft resolution from France to extend the UN peacekeeping mission in the south (UNIFIL) without changes, amid talks with key international powers to support its request for an extension.
The UN Security Council is expected to renew UNIFIL’s mandate in late August, as it has annually since Resolution 1701 was adopted in 2006 after a 33-day war between Lebanon and Israel.
Lebanon wants the extension without amendments, while Israel seeks more powers for the peacekeepers, including access to restricted areas in southern Lebanon.
Diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib, currently in New York, has held numerous meetings with key stakeholders regarding Lebanese affairs.
The sources, who requested anonymity, said Lebanon is awaiting a draft resolution prepared by France, the penholder on this issue.
France usually drafts the resolution and presents it to the UN Security Council (UNSC), which sometimes makes changes.
In 2022, for example, the UNSC allowed UNIFIL to operate without coordinating with the Lebanese Army, which led to criticism.
In 2023, Lebanon opposed this change, arguing it did not reflect the need for UNIFIL to work with the Lebanese government and military as required by the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).
Recently, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri met with Russian Special Envoy Vladimir Safronkov to discuss Lebanon and regional issues, including Israeli actions in Lebanon and Gaza.
As Lebanon negotiates the extension of UNIFIL’s mandate, it has not yet received any international messages about potential amendments, despite reports of Israeli demands that Lebanon opposes.
This extension comes amid ongoing conflict that began on Oct. 8, when Hezbollah started supporting Gaza from southern Lebanon.
Retired Lebanese Army Gen. Abdul Rahman Shehaitly, former head of Lebanon's delegation to the Tripartite Committee (Lebanon, Israel, and UNIFIL), views international acceptance of the UNIFIL extension as a “very positive development amid the ongoing war.”
He explained that it signals no expansion of the conflict and underscores that stability in the south remains a priority for the participating countries.
He added that the mere presence of UNIFIL and the lack of any withdrawals “provides assurances that the conflict will not escalate.”
