- The United Nations peacekeeping mandate in Lebanon is set to expire at the end of the year.
- French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot stressed the urgency of establishing a new security framework.
Updated 6 min 12 sec ago
November 10, 2026 21:12
Paris — G7 foreign ministers gathered in Paris and agreed on the importance of preventing a security vacuum in Lebanon once United Nations peacekeepers withdraw. French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot, who chaired the meeting, said the group recognized the need to move quickly toward a new security architecture for the war‑torn country.
They also emphasized that a credible, long‑lasting security arrangement must support the Lebanese Armed Forces. While acknowledging that no concrete replacement for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been decided yet, Barrot noted that UNIFIL, which has been operating since 1978 with roughly 7,500 troops from nearly 50 nations, will cease its mandate on 31 December 2026.
The United Nations Security Council voted last year, under U.S. pressure, to end UNIFIL’s mandate at the close of 2026. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas previously indicated that the European Union prefers a UN‑led peacekeeping presence in southern Lebanon.
The conflict intensified after the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched an attack on Israel, prompting a large‑scale Israeli air campaign and ground invasion. Lebanon reports more than 4,300 civilian deaths as a result of the fighting.
Barrot expressed optimism that the international community could reach a consensus on the next steps. “Our shared objectives are the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, the disarmament of Hezbollah, and the re‑establishment of a strong Lebanese state with a monopoly on the use of arms,” he said. “Such a state would be capable of guaranteeing security and prosperity for all Lebanese communities.”
Israel currently maintains troops in a self‑declared security zone extending about 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory along the border.
In their final communiqué, the ministers underscored the need for a robust, credible, and enduring security framework that bolsters the Lebanese Armed Forces.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after discussions with President Emmanuel Macron, suggested that the post‑UNIFIL arrangement “does not have to be a military mission; it could be a civilian mission.” He called for a verification system that both sides trust to ensure compliance with existing agreements.
One option under consideration is a transitional mechanism that would repurpose existing UNIFIL assets, according to an unnamed European diplomat. However, such a mechanism would likely require a new UN Security Council resolution, risking a U.S. veto.
European nations are also advancing a proposal for an international military coalition to assist the Lebanese Armed Forces in disarming Hezbollah. Italy, however, has expressed hesitation, citing strong commitment to a continued presence in Lebanon but reluctance to join an ad‑hoc coalition, partly because such missions are not funded by the United Nations.
