U.N. Secretary-General Proposes Three Options for Post‑UNIFIL Presence in Lebanon

June 2 (Reuters) – U.N. Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres wrote to members of the Security Council urging a continued U.N. uniformed presence in Lebanon after the UNIFIL mandate ends at year‑end.

In the letter, dated Monday and seen by Reuters, Guterres presented three alternatives to replace the 7,500‑personnel force. The options range from a modest observer mission to a more robust contingent, involving between roughly 1,980 and 5,525 uniformed personnel.

Key points from the letter include:

• Guterres noted that conditions in Lebanon have worsened sharply since March and that any of the proposed options would require a uniformed presence to back a strengthened political mission seeking a lasting solution.
• Option 1 envisions an unarmed observer team of 350, supported by an armed component for force protection that includes four infantry battalions of 750 troops each and a reserve of 700.
• This force would be able to monitor the entire Blue Line and extend to the Litani River.
• Option 2 proposes 285 unarmed observers, with two infantry battalions of 750 troops each and a reserve of 450 for protection.
• The focus would be on the sector between the Litani River and the Blue Line, with monitoring via static observation posts and patrols.
• Option 3 calls for 215 unarmed observers, two light infantry battalions of 450 troops each, and a 350‑person quick‑reaction force for protection.
• The mission would watch the Blue Line and areas a few kilometres north, using static positions at critical points and mobile observation.
• Guterres cautioned that the full Blue Line could not be continuously monitored without advanced technology, and the force would lack the capability to interpose between Lebanese and Israeli troops to de‑escalate tensions or fully document cease‑fire violations.
• Any future presence would need air assets for medical evacuations, de‑mining, and engineering support, with radar, helicopters, drones and satellite imagery enhancing monitoring capacity.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Jamie Freed)

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