American officials are currently weighing the possibility of cutting their backing for UNIFIL, the United Nations peacekeeping mission stationed in southern Lebanon, in an effort to reduce the financial burden associated with maintaining the force, Yisroel Hayom reported on Sunday night. Later in the day, American sources confirmed to The Times of Israel that this potential move is under serious discussion.
If the United States does decide to withdraw its support from UNIFIL, Israel is expected to support the decision, Yisroel Hayom noted. This support stems both from Israel’s interest in standing with the administration of President Donald Trump and from its military’s current working relationship with the Lebanese army, which has improved since the ceasefire that took effect last November.
The report explained that the presence of the Lebanese Armed Forces in the south of the country has shown tangible success in limiting Hezbollah’s ability to regroup and rearm. Because of this, many of UNIFIL’s roles are now considered unnecessary or overlapping with the Lebanese military’s efforts.
Sources familiar with the discussions told The Times of Israel that Washington has not yet reached a final decision. However, the administration is pushing for serious changes within UNIFIL. If these reforms are not forthcoming, pulling support remains a real possibility.
Since UNIFIL operates under a UN Security Council mandate that must be renewed yearly, the U.S. could effectively end the mission by vetoing the upcoming renewal resolution, which is expected to be presented in August.
UNIFIL has had a presence in southern Lebanon since 1978, originally set up to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli forces following a military conflict between the two countries. Its scope significantly widened after the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
After the 2006 war, the Security Council passed Resolution 1701, which expanded UNIFIL’s authority and allowed peacekeepers to deploy along the Israeli border. Their mission included assisting the Lebanese military in asserting control over the southern region of the country, something it had not done in decades.
Resolution 1701 also demanded a full end to hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah and called for Hezbollah’s disarmament. Since then, the UN has extended UNIFIL’s mandate on a yearly basis, though critics continue to question how effective the force has actually been in achieving its objectives.
After more than a year of fighting with Hezbollah—punctuated by intense conflict over a two-month span—a ceasefire was established. In the aftermath, the Lebanese army deployed to southern Lebanon to implement the terms outlined in Resolution 1701.
The resolution stipulates that Hezbollah must move its forces to the north of the Litani River, a distance of roughly 30 kilometers from the Israeli border, and must dismantle any military positions in southern Lebanon.
Speaking to The Wall Street Journal last month, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam claimed that his government had already fulfilled 80 percent of its goals when it came to disarming Hezbollah and other militias operating in the south.
Despite this, the IDF has continued its campaign of precise attacks targeting Hezbollah figures and infrastructure, citing ongoing violations of the ceasefire. According to IDF data, more than 180 members of Hezbollah have been eliminated in the process.
{Matzav.com}