Lebanon welcomes Franco-Italian plan for post-UNIFIL security force in south Lebanon

• Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomes a Franco-Italian initiative to establish a multinational force to replace UNIFIL after its mandate ends in southern Lebanon.
• The UN peacekeeping mission, currently about 7,500 troops from around 50 countries, is set to conclude at the end of December under a UN Security Council resolution adopted in August 2025.
• Aoun describes the proposal as a sign of strong international commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty, stability, and the role of the Lebanese Armed Forces in maintaining security, especially in the south.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday welcomed a French-Italian initiative to form a multinational coalition to replace the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) after its mandate expires in southern Lebanon.

The current UNIFIL deployment, numbering about 7,500 peacekeepers from roughly 50 countries, is set to conclude at the end of December under a UN Security Council resolution adopted in August 2025 amid US pressure.

In a statement from the presidency, Aoun described the Franco-Italian proposal as “a sincere expression of international commitment to supporting Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability,” and as recognition of the role of the Lebanese Armed Forces in maintaining security and extending state authority across the country, particularly in the southern border areas.

French President Emmanuel Macron said after talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday that Paris and Rome aim to launch a coalition framework for a post-UNIFIL arrangement, in coordination with the European Union and the United Nations, to strengthen Lebanon’s sovereignty and armed forces and prevent its territory from becoming a platform for regional escalation.

Aoun also expressed appreciation for Franco-Italian warnings against allowing a “dangerous vacuum” after UNIFIL’s withdrawal, saying Lebanon looks forward to any international formula that strengthens its military capabilities, preserves its territorial integrity, and prevents the country from becoming a theater for regional tensions.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has previously stressed the “necessity” of maintaining a UN military presence in Lebanon beyond UNIFIL’s mandate, a position likely to face opposition from the United States and 'Israel'.

In a report to the UN Security Council, Guterres outlined options ranging from about 2,000 to more than 5,500 troops to monitor the ceasefire and support the Lebanese Armed Forces.

France remains one of the largest contributors to UNIFIL, which has been deployed in southern Lebanon near the Blue Line since 1978. Despite its presence, the force has not prevented repeated rounds of conflict between 'Israel' and Hezbollah.