Lebanon Calls for UNIFIL Extension Amid UN Rejection of Rescinding Resolution 1701

Members of the Security Council rejected Israeli attempts to undermine or abolish Resolution 1701 during a closed session, amid serious discussions on Lebanese demands for an additional, even brief, extension of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate, alongside a clear desire from the U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration for a "supportive international role" within the trilateral framework between the United States, Lebanon, and Israel.

Under Resolution 2790 adopted by the Security Council last summer, the current UNIFIL mandate expires on December 31, and also requests a report from UN Secretary-General António Guterres proposing "alternatives" for the mission to continue implementing all provisions of Resolution 1701.

According to informed diplomatic sources speaking to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, members of the Council, which convened at France’s request, discussed ways to implement Resolution 1701 as the "reference framework governing relations between Lebanon and Israel," along with the report Guterres submitted to the Security Council in June.

Guterres’ proposals include establishing an enhanced monitoring force of thousands of personnel to assume post-UNIFIL responsibilities through "three options." The first option includes "the presence of 350 uniformed unarmed military observers from the United Nations, alongside a United Nations armed contingent to protect the force, comprising four infantry battalions of 750 armed soldiers each, and a reserve force of 700 armed soldiers."

The second option calls for 285 uniformed unarmed military observers from the United Nations, plus an armed United Nations contingent to protect forces, consisting of two infantry battalions of 750 armed soldiers each, and a reserve force of 450 armed soldiers.

The third option requires "the presence of 215 unarmed military observers from the United Nations, in addition to two light infantry battalions of 450 armed soldiers each, and a rapid reaction force of 350 armed soldiers to protect the forces."

The Lebanese Option

While it appeared that the Lebanese government favored the first option, a diplomat speaking to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat noted "developments following Hezbollah’s disastrous intervention in the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran," arguing that "initiatives since 2024, including the November 27 agreement to halt hostilities," along with the trilateral framework agreement between Lebanon, Israel, and the United States, have become tools for implementing Resolution 1701, which clearly mandates safeguarding Lebanon’s international borders, and whose eighth operative paragraph calls for disarming armed groups, including of course Hezbollah.

Given Israel’s reluctance to implement all provisions of Resolution 1701 and its focus solely on the trilateral framework agreement, Lebanese diplomacy has moved swiftly, relying on both publicly stated positions and behind-the-scenes efforts led by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Najib Mikati, conducting "broad consultations over several months with relevant countries on the Lebanese file, particularly Security Council members, especially the five permanent members, to convey and clarify Lebanon’s position ahead of the Security Council meeting."

The International Role

Representatives of member states showed understanding of Lebanon’s message calling for a UNIFIL extension, according to a diplomat from Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, who revealed that U.S. moves are focused on "maintaining a supportive international role for the trilateral framework agreement" reached by Lebanese, Israeli, and American negotiators, without clearly responding to Israeli demands "to pay no attention to Resolution 1701."

Diplomats during the session also emphasized that "the circumstances have changed significantly since Hezbollah’s intervention in the conflict." All Council members, including the United States, stressed the "need to preserve the UN’s role," ensuring that the U.S.-led negotiations between Lebanon and Israel remain "complementary" to the multilateral track represented by the Security Council and the United Nations.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump made clear its stance: it "does not support extending UNIFIL," affirming that "any new international presence must be closely tied to the concrete objectives of the trilateral framework." However, it expressed willingness to discuss "arrangements supporting Hezbollah’s disarmament."

"The country has witnessed seven rounds of conflict during UNIFIL’s tenure," said an American official, "and Hezbollah built a massive military infrastructure around its positions, sometimes using the proximity of UN peacekeeping forces to shield its infrastructure or operations. We are not interested in replacing an ineffective, open-ended mandate with another one."

Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat - Ali Barda