UN Security Council Approves Final Year for Lebanon Peacekeeping Mission

The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on extending the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon until the end of 2026, followed by a year-long drawdown and withdrawal of troops. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which has been active since 1978, primarily monitors the border between Lebanon and Israel. The current mandate is due to expire on August 31.

Approximately 340 Irish Defence Forces personnel are currently stationed at Camp Shamrock in Lebanon. Over 10,000 Irish troops have served in the area since the mission began. Recent tensions have highlighted the risks faced by these peacekeepers. In May, soldiers from the 126th Infantry Battalion were fired upon by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) while on patrol near the village of Yaroun, with no return fire from the Irish troops, adhering to their operational protocols.

This incident followed the tragic death of Private Seán Rooney, aged 24, who was killed during an ambush on December 14, 2022. The attack occurred near Al-Aqbiya, a region known for Hezbollah’s influence, resulting in Rooney’s death and serious injuries to Trooper Shane Kearney, aged 22.

Future of UNIFIL in Lebanon

The Security Council plans to adopt a French draft resolution, following negotiations with the United States, which holds veto power. The resolution stipulates that UNIFIL will cease operations on December 31, 2026, and begin an “orderly and safe drawdown” of personnel in collaboration with the Lebanese government. The aim is to ensure that the Lebanese government becomes the sole provider of security in southern Lebanon.

UNIFIL’s mandate was expanded in 2006 during a conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, allowing peacekeepers to assist the Lebanese army in maintaining an area free from unauthorized armed groups. This expansion has led to tensions with Hezbollah, which remains a powerful political and military entity in Lebanon.

The United States has been actively involved in diplomacy between Lebanon and Israel, recently brokering a truce following conflicts that escalated during the Gaza war. Washington is advocating for a plan to disarm Hezbollah, connecting this initiative with a strategic Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Additionally, the US is promoting an economic development zone in southern Lebanon, backed by Gulf states, to diminish Hezbollah’s dependence on Iranian funding.

As the UN Security Council prepares to discuss the future of UNIFIL, the implications of this decision are significant for regional stability and the safety of peacekeeping forces operating in a complex and often volatile environment.