UNIFIL is a United Nations peacekeeping force deployed in southern Lebanon. Known for monitoring the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel under UN Resolution 1701 and supporting Lebanese state authority in the south. Recently, UNIFIL has faced repeated attacks from multiple actors and is set to formally end its mission in late 2026, with European nations planning a successor security arrangement. Last updated Sep 9th, 2026
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to AFP: Lebanon wants an agreement with Israel that paves the way for peace.
He wants all weapons under army control only, disarming Hezbollah, without internal conflict. Lebanon is also seeking a new force in the south to fill the gap when UNIFIL leaves.
UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, will formally end its mission this December after decades in the south. Western sources in Beirut tell Kan News its roughly 7,500 troops are set to begin withdrawing in early January 2027.
The ...
UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, will formally end its mission this December after decades in the south. Western sources in Beirut tell Kan News its roughly 7,500 troops are set to begin withdrawing in early January 2027.
The plan is to transfer UNIFIL's dozens of positions to the Lebanese army, but most sit inside the "yellow line" now under Israeli control. No international replacement has been agreed on, and the sources warn the withdrawal itself will be a complex logistical operation.
“Any Israeli military presence north of the Blue Line constitutes a violation of Security Council resolution 1701 and is monitored and reported by UNIFIL.”
(They are reporting IDF movements in the security zone)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, with PM Nawaf Salam, is pushing to sign an EU military cooperation deal to bring in a European force replacing UNIFIL when its mandate ends this year, per Al-Akhbar.
Aoun is treating it as needing no cabinet approval or parliamentary law, backed by the U.S., which favors limiting European participation to Italy. His Rome visit will raise the file with PM Giorgia Meloni.
"U.S., French, and Italian forces are on the ground in Lebanon to help implement the agreement with Israel. CENTCOM has committed military aid and air cover. UNIFIL officers collaborated with Hizbullah and were on its payroll."
An Israeli official spoke to the Jerusalem Post on the Lebanon talks:
The discussions were positive.
The pilot zones will serve to test the successful expression of Lebanese sovereignty through conditions implemented by the Lebanese armed...
An Israeli official spoke to the Jerusalem Post on the Lebanon talks:
The discussions were positive.
The pilot zones will serve to test the successful expression of Lebanese sovereignty through conditions implemented by the Lebanese armed forces and verified by a third party. UNIFIL and UNTSO will not be part of any verification model.
On private property, discussions continue on a solution to facilitate the removal of contraband weapons while Lebanese law is respected.
The two pilot zones in question were agreed. Any further implementation of pilot zones is contingent on the successful implementation of the initial pilot program.
Regarding Lebanon, France and Italy have a special responsibility because both contribute to UNIFIL.
Together with Prime Minister Meloni, we want to launch a coalition to prepare a post-UNIFIL mechanism, naturally...
French President Macron:
Regarding Lebanon, France and Italy have a special responsibility because both contribute to UNIFIL.
Together with Prime Minister Meloni, we want to launch a coalition to prepare a post-UNIFIL mechanism, naturally in cooperation with the European Union and the United Nations.
The objective is to strengthen Lebanon's sovereignty and prevent its territory from once again becoming the starting point of a new regional conflict.
I believe our cooperation on this issue is excellent, and I hope it will open a new perspective before the end of UNIFIL's mandate.
Italy and France will form a new coalition to support Lebanon after UNIFIL's mandate expires this year. Meloni and Macron made the announcement after meeting in Antibes.
IDF: A Hezbollah operative was killed in southern Lebanon after using a UNIFIL position for military activity, then approaching Israeli forces in a way that posed an immediate threat.
Hezbollah mortar fire hit a UNIFIL post near Debin in southern Lebanon overnight, killing one UN peacekeeper and wounding two. The IDF traced the launches to the Al Qatrani area and confirmed Hezbollah carried out the attack.
UN Secretary-General Guterres: Strongly condemn the kiIIing of the UNIFIL soldier, this is the third incident in recent weeks in which peacekeeping forces personnel were kiIIed in Lebanon.
Hezbollah denies involvement in today's attack on a UNIFIL patrol in southern Lebanon that killed a French peacekeeper and wounded three others.
UNIFIL said the patrol came under small-arms fire in the village of Ghanduriyah while clearing...
Hezbollah denies involvement in today's attack on a UNIFIL patrol in southern Lebanon that killed a French peacekeeper and wounded three others.
UNIFIL said the patrol came under small-arms fire in the village of Ghanduriyah while clearing ordnance. Its initial assessment points to Hezbollah.
French President Macron confirmed a French soldier was killed and said the attack was apparently carried out by Hezbollah.
Hezbollah in a statement "calls for caution in issuing judgments" and "expresses surprise at the parties that rushed to throw accusations arbitrarily."
Earlier this evening, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) detained a UNIFIL peacekeeper after blocking a logistics convoy. Following direct and immediate contacts by UNIFIL's Head of Mission & Force Commander and our Liaison Branch, the peacekeeper was released in less than an hour.
IDF says Hezbollah fired around 165 rockets landing in or near UNIFIL bases in Lebanon since the start of Operation “Roar of the Lion.”
The military notes Hezbollah exploits its proximity to UN positions to conduct attacks on Israel, systematically violating international law and endangering UN personnel. Coordination with UNIFIL continues throughout the fighting in southern Lebanon.
The IDF says it was not behind the incident in southern Lebanon that injured UNIFIL troops, stressing its operations target Hezbollah, not UN forces, the Lebanese army, or civilians. A separate March 29 incident in Adchit el Qsair is still under investigation.
