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UN Security Council Delays Vote on UNIFIL as France Seeks One-Year Extension

The proposal keeps the force through August 2026 to pave the way for a handover to Lebanese control.

Overview

  • The vote expected Monday was postponed, with diplomats now anticipating a decision later this week before the mandate expires on Sunday.
  • France's draft would extend UNIFIL until 31 August 2026 and signal work toward a withdrawal that leaves the Lebanese state as the sole security provider in the south.
  • The United States and Israel are reported to be pushing for a full wind-down within 12 months, and Washington's stance on the compromise remains uncertain.
  • A senior UN official warned that eliminating UNIFIL's capacity quickly would be risky, noting the mission has supported the deployment of 8,300 Lebanese troops to 120 locations.
  • The draft condemns incidents that injured peacekeepers at UNIFIL sites, understood to reference Israeli strikes without naming Israel, as Ireland presses for renewal with over 300 troops deployed.