Overview

• The text seen by AFP would extend UNIFIL to December 31, 2026, then start an orderly reduction that finishes within one year.
• Washington and Israel oppose keeping the force, and the U.S. position at the vote remains unclear after remarks indicating support only for a one‑year renewal.
• France, backed by Beirut, initially sought a simple one‑year extension before negotiations shifted to a fixed timetable to avert a potential U.S. veto.
• After the withdrawal period, the Lebanese armed forces would assume sole security responsibility in the south, as Beirut reiterates commitments tied to the 2024 ceasefire to disarm and dismantle Hezbollah.
• The draft also urges Israel to pull back from positions north of the UN Blue Line, including five sites on Lebanese territory, while UNIFIL’s roughly 10,800 peacekeepers face a mandate that expires Sunday.