October 17, 2026
As the end of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) approaches on December 31, 2026, and its numbers are reduced in preparation for its withdrawal, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, re-raised questions about the nature of the phase that will follow the departure of the international mission, stressing at the same time the international organization’s full commitment to Resolution 1701 and its continued support for peace and stability in Lebanon.
Lacroix’s statements came at the end of a three-day official visit to Lebanon, during which he held a series of high-level meetings that included President Joseph Aoun, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Defense Minister Michel Mansi, Foreign Minister Youssef Raji, in addition to the Army Commander, General Rudolf Heikal. During the talks, the two sides discussed the mechanisms for implementing Resolution 1701, the tasks of UNIFIL, and the options presented for the future of stability after the end of the mission’s tasks.
As part of his tour, Lacroix met with members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of troop-contributing countries to UNIFIL, and the United Nations team working in Lebanon, and concluded his visit by inspecting the general headquarters of the international force in Naqoura, where he met with the leadership and military and civilian personnel.
The UN official explained that the Lebanese authorities stressed the necessity of the presence of a “third party,” represented by the United Nations, to prevent any unaccounted escalation or escape of events between the Israeli army and the Lebanese army. Lacroix also touched on the existing concerns regarding the future of the Blue Line, and the continued provision of support to local communities in southern Lebanon following the withdrawal of the international force.
In a related context, the issued statement confirmed that UNIFIL is continuing to perform its tasks in accordance with Resolution 1701, which include monitoring developments, impartial documentation of violations, and continuous communication with concerned parties to prevent misunderstandings and defuse tension, as well as facilitating humanitarian activities.
Lacroix’s visit is of exceptional importance in conjunction with the ongoing preparations in the UN Security Council to discuss alternative scenarios and options for the period after the expiration of UNIFIL’s mandate in late 2026.
