Politics
As UNIFIL mandate expires, Lebanon insists the force stays until Resolution 1701 is implemented
October 18, 2026 at 04:26 PM · Updated 51m ago
Coverage
4 reports · over 7 hours
يواليوم السابع
فرنسا تجدد ضرورة احترام وقف إطلاق النار في لبنان وحماية المدنيين والبنى التحتية
(opens the publisher’s site)
يواليوم السابع
بري: لبنان متمسك ببقاء «اليونيفيل» لحين استكمال تطبيق القرار 1701
(opens the publisher’s site)
يواليوم السابع
نواف سلام يدعو إلى استمرار الحضور الدولي بجنوب لبنان بعد انتهاء مهمة اليونيفيل
(opens the publisher’s site)
SNSky News Arabia
العد التنازلي لرحيل اليونيفيل.. ماذا يخشى سكان الجنوب؟
(opens the publisher’s site)Lebanon affirmed its commitment to keeping UNIFIL deployed until Resolution 1701 is fully implemented, as the peacekeeping force's mandate ends in 2026.
- Speaker Nabih Berri, meeting French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in Beirut, said Lebanon insists UNIFIL remain until Resolution 1701 is fully implemented.
- The UN Security Council decided in August 2025 to end UNIFIL's mandate by the end of 2026.
- Berri said Israel continues to violate Resolution 1701 and occupies large areas of southern Lebanon.
- Residents of southern towns fear the withdrawal will create a security and economic vacuum while the Lebanese army has not fully deployed.
- Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, also meeting Barrot in Beirut, urged keeping an international presence in southern Lebanon after UNIFIL ends to avoid a security vacuum.
- France reiterated its call for respecting the ceasefire in Lebanon and protecting civilians and infrastructure during Barrot's two-day visit.
- Barrot and Minister Alys Roveau stressed enhancing the Lebanese army's capabilities and ensuring exclusive state control of weapons.