EU Launches New Security Mission in Lebanon as UN Peacekeepers Draw Down

European Union foreign ministers endorsed a new civilian‑military mission for Lebanon on Monday, aiming to bolster the nation’s security apparatus amid the United Nations’ forthcoming withdrawal of its long‑standing peacekeeping presence.

The operation, slated for deployment within months, will concentrate on border and maritime security, counter‑drone measures and training for Lebanese security forces. Details on its mandate, staffing levels and command arrangement are still being finalised.

In contrast to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), whose mandate expires at the end of 2026, the EU mission will not operate in the southern region, where Israel continues its military campaign against the Iran‑backed Hezbollah.

“We will establish a new mission in Lebanon with both civilian and military components,” said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday.

“We aim to have the mission operational on the ground within a couple of months,” she added. “I visited Lebanon just last week, and the local authorities have warmly welcomed the initiative.”

The decision follows Lebanon’s concerns over its security outlook after UNIFIL’s planned withdrawal, which has historically acted as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon. President Joseph Aoun has urged that the UN operation’s mandate be extended.

Israel has long criticised UNIFIL for its perceived inability to curb Hezbollah, while the United States has likewise questioned the force’s efficacy, advocating instead for a direct security arrangement between Israel and Lebanon.

EU officials stress that the new mission is not meant to supplant UNIFIL, but rather to reinforce Lebanon’s indigenous security capacities.

“The mission will undertake tasks ranging from bolstering border security to ensuring maritime safety and countering drones over a period of up to three years,” said French Europe and Foreign Affairs Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot. “Both its military and civilian aspects will support Lebanese police in their daily operations.”

Brussels is mulling the deployment of roughly 150 personnel—only a small fraction of the approximately 7,500 peacekeepers currently serving with UNIFIL.

The operation is expected to fall under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), with an initial mandate of up to three years that may be renewed. Member states will contribute personnel and equipment on a voluntary basis.

The participating nations remain uncertain, though several current UNIFIL contributors—including Italy, France, Spain, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Finland, and Poland—have signaled interest in sustaining a presence in Lebanon.

Command arrangements are still unsettled, with one proposal advocating rotating leadership among Italy, France, and Spain.

In June, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that their nations would co‑lead an international coalition to support Lebanon after UNIFIL’s exit. It remains uncertain whether this effort will function independently or be integrated into the EU mission.

Ireland, currently holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, has also indicated its intent to join the mission.

Dublin is ready to contribute to the civilian strand, though its participation in the military component may be hindered by ongoing revisions to the legal framework governing Irish troops’ overseas deployments.

“We have been present for decades, supporting the region, the Lebanese Armed Forces, and especially the civilian population,” said Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee. “I would hate to see that effort lost.”

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