A US State Department source overseeing the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) mission said Wednesday that the one-year extension for the peacekeeping force is not open-ended, but comes with a clear timeline to end its role. Speaking to MTV Lebanon, the official emphasized that the naval component will remain until the mission’s conclusion, citing its key role in monitoring Lebanon’s maritime borders and preventing smuggling.
The comments come as Lebanese leaders weigh in on the future of UNIFIL, whose mandate faces renewal at the United Nations.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stressed UNIFIL’s importance for maintaining calm in southern Lebanon and enabling the Lebanese Army to assert state authority. Speaking with US Senator Markwayne Mullin, a congressional delegation and US Ambassador Lisa Johnson, he highlighted ongoing reforms, called for disarming groups outside state control, and urged continued international support for the army. He also pressed the US to push Israel to halt its aggression, withdraw from occupied areas, and release prisoners.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri warned that UNIFIL’s mission is under threat despite international efforts to enforce the November 2024 ceasefire. He criticized Israel’s ongoing violations across Lebanon and questioned how the peacekeeping force, led by an American general with a French deputy, can fulfill its mandate. Berri also urged Hezbollah to cooperate with the army and support the government in renewing UNIFIL’s mandate.
Comments