G7 Ministers Acknowledge Gap in Lebanon Security Plan as UNIFIL Mandate Expires
Diplomats in Paris agree on the need for a successor to the UN peacekeeping force but remain divided on the specific mechanism.
By Zoe Harrison ·
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot admitted on Tuesday that G7 foreign ministers in Paris have not yet selected a specific replacement for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. The meeting addressed the impending expiration of the UNIFIL mandate on December 31, 2026. Barrot stated that the group reached a consensus on the need to prevent a security vacuum, though he noted that final agreement on the replacement mechanism remains elusive.
UNIFIL currently deploys roughly 7,500 personnel from nearly 50 nations. The force was originally established after Israel's 1978 invasion. Its mandate was expanded following the 2006 war to prevent Hezbollah from building military infrastructure in southern Lebanon. The UN Security Council voted last year to end the mission. That decision came under pressure from the United States and criticism from Israel, which argued the force failed to stop Hezbollah's border construction.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday regarding the transition. Rubio proposed that the successor mission could be civilian rather than military. He stressed the importance of a verification system trusted by both parties to ensure compliance with current agreements. Barrot outlined shared goals for the new framework, including the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the disarmament of Hezbollah, and the restoration of a strong Lebanese state with a monopoly on the use of force.
European diplomats indicated that several options are under consideration. One proposal involves a transitional mechanism using existing UNIFIL forces. This approach would likely require a new UN Security Council resolution. Such a resolution could face a potential American veto. Another idea involves an international military coalition to assist the Lebanese Armed Forces in disarming Hezbollah. Italy appears reluctant to join an ad hoc coalition due to cost concerns, as these missions are not funded by the UN.
Tensions remained high on the ground during the talks. UNIFIL reported that its forces came under fire during a routine patrol near Wadi Jilou, east of Tyre, on Tuesday evening. The patrol was outside the Israeli military buffer zone and was struck by about a dozen rounds. Peacekeepers returned fire after identifying the source. The shooter stopped, and no UNIFIL observers were injured. The force has asked the Lebanese government to start a swift investigation.
Earlier in the day, an Israeli civilian illegally crossed the border near the Rosh Hanikra Crossing. UNIFIL forces located the man and handed him over to the Israeli Defense Forces. The IDF escorted him back to Israel for police questioning. Illegal border crossing carries a penalty of up to four years in jail. The IDF has opened an investigation into the event.
These diplomatic efforts follow a series of border skirmishes that began after the October 7, 2023 attacks. A US-brokered ceasefire in November 2024 required Israeli withdrawal from most of Lebanon, leaving only five strategic posts. It also tasked the Lebanese military with dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure. A new Lebanese government pledged to fulfill this mandate in early 2025, but Israel has accused Beirut of falling short. Recent US-brokered talks established a framework for gradual Israeli withdrawal as Lebanon disarms Hezbollah, a process that has stalled in recent months.
