October 1, 2026
The United Nations Special Coordinator in Lebanon, Jean Arnault, affirmed the international organization’s firm commitment to supporting the Lebanese state, its institutions and local authorities in the South and Nabatieh governorates, regardless of the decision that the Security Council will take regarding the future of the International Emergency Forces (UNIFIL), stressing the need to develop alternative solutions that prevent the occurrence of any security or humanitarian vacuum in the concentration sites in the event of the forces’ withdrawal.
Arnault’s statements came during his visit to the office of the Acting Governor of the South and Nabatieh, Mansour Daou, at Saraya Sidon, where the two sides held a meeting in which they discussed the current conditions and developments, according to what was reported by the National News Agency. The UN official was accompanied by a high-level delegation that included the head of the political department, Muriel Rodriguez, the head of the coordination department, Alaa Abdel Aziz, and the political advisors, Mahasen Rahal, and media personality, Pascal Al-Qassis, along with members of his office team.
In statements after the meeting, Arnault thanked Governor Daou for the reception, describing the current stage as difficult due to the repercussions of the war, the ongoing pressures, and the attacks targeting citizens and institutions in the south. He explained that the visit aims to renew support for the state, its local authorities, and the people of the two regions, adding: “Whatever the decision is for the international forces, the United Nations is radically committed to supporting the state and its local authorities in the South and Nabatieh governorates, and making efforts to stand by them.”
In response to questions about the fate of international forces, Arno indicated that the Secretary-General of the United Nations recommended to the international community the necessity of the continued presence of UNIFIL in the south, even with a reduced presence compared to the current situation. He stressed the danger of leaving troop concentration sites vulnerable to vacancy after any possible withdrawal, as this represents negative repercussions on security and humanitarian work, indicating that the decision to extend the forces does not fall within the powers of the Secretary-General alone, but rather is an exclusive decision for the member states of the Security Council.
At the conclusion of his visit, Arnault appealed to member states to take into account the vital importance of UNIFIL’s presence in the south, calling on the international community to prepare for a scenario of no extension by finding alternative solutions to prevent any vacuum from occurring. He reassured the people of the south and Nabatieh that international support is continuing and constant, stressing that they can rely on the support of the international organization, which “has been and will remain with them.” These statements put the issue of preventing a vacuum at the forefront of international and local discussions regarding the future of the UN mission, in parallel with the continued pledge to support local authorities regardless of the outcomes of the upcoming Security Council resolution.
