The key facts

  • Jean-Pierre Lacroix warned of the risks of withdrawing UNIFIL from southern Lebanon
  • About 10,000 people remain in the zone between Israel's defensive line and the 'blue line'
  • Israel, with US support, is pushing for the mission's end; the Security Council has not yet given clear guidance on a successor

UN asks Security Council to determine the mission's future

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, head of the UN Department of Peace Operations, warned on Wednesday that the planned withdrawal of peacekeepers from Lebanon could heighten tensions in the region, and called on the Security Council to clarify what will replace the mission. He made the remarks to journalists after a visit to the Middle East, Anadolu reports.

Risks of withdrawal and the parties' positions

According to Lacroix, Lebanese officials expressed concern about the loss of a third-party presence that had helped prevent misunderstandings and maintained channels of communication between the two sides. 'Do we really believe that the Lebanese army and Israeli defense forces can simply be left face to face without any third party?' he asked. The UNIFIL mission has monitored the situation along the 'blue line' for decades, reported violations, and facilitated humanitarian access to southern Lebanon. Lacroix noted that about 10,000 people still live in the zone between Israel's forward defensive line and the 'blue line,' which makes the mission's humanitarian role especially important: its departure would leave a gap not only in monitoring but also in coordinating humanitarian convoys and preventing unintended escalation. The withdrawal is taking place as Israel, with US backing, advocates ending the mission, while the UN has not yet received clear instructions from the Security Council on a possible successor. Lacroix added that withdrawal plans are ready but flexible enough to accommodate a possible future UN presence.