Israel Urges U.S. to Terminate UN Peace Mission in Lebanon
(MENAFN) Israel has formally requested that the United States back the termination of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, citing what it calls repeated failures to prevent Hezbollah’s presence despite ongoing Israeli military activity in the region.
In a letter addressed to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called for the “immediate termination” of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), according to a report by Israel Hayom. Saar contended that the mission has not fulfilled its primary role of curbing Hezbollah’s operations south of the Litani River.
“The force was intended to be temporary from the outset and has failed in its fundamental task – to prevent Hezbollah's entrenchment south of the Litani River,” Saar stated.
The letter further accuses UNIFIL of providing the UN Security Council with reports that fail to accurately portray conditions on the ground. Saar also proposed that the Lebanese army should take over security responsibilities in the south in place of extending the peacekeeping mission.
Saar reiterated in his written statement that the mission was always meant to be temporary and has fundamentally failed to stop Hezbollah from establishing itself south of the Litani River.
Saar is slated to hold direct talks with Rubio during an official visit to Washington, DC, next week, Israel Hayom added.
UNIFIL, established in 1978, was bolstered under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 following the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. The mission’s current mandate is set to expire on August 31, 2025, unless renewed by the Council.
The diplomatic push comes amid heightened tensions along the Israeli-Lebanese border. Israel launched military operations in Lebanon on October 8, 2023, which escalated into a full-scale war by September 2024, resulting in over 4,000 deaths and nearly 17,000 injuries.
Despite a ceasefire brokered in November 2024, Israel has continued near-daily strikes in southern Lebanon, citing the need to disrupt Hezbollah activity. Under the truce agreement, Israeli forces were to complete a withdrawal by January 26, 2025, but the deadline was later extended to February 18 after noncompliance from Tel Aviv. Israeli troops remain deployed at five positions along the border.
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