UNIFIL to end its mission in December 2026

The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2790 today (28 Aug). The resolution renews the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), for a final time until 31 December 2026, and “to start an orderly and safe drawdown and withdrawal from 31 December 2026 and within one year.”

Lebanon’s U.N. envoy Ahmad Arafa welcomed the decision but stressed the challenges ahead. “Lebanon still considers UNIFIL’s presence as essential to guarantee security and stability in Lebanon and the region, until we reach a comprehensive political understanding on all pending issues pursuant to resolution 1701,” he told the Council.

He said Israel’s “ongoing daily attacks on Lebanon and the systematic targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure” were preventing displaced families from returning home, despite the cessation of hostilities arrangement agreed on Nov. 26, 2024. 

Arafa also noted that Lebanon’s new government had taken “important and unprecedented decisions” to strengthen state authority, restrict weapons, and deploy the army south of the Litani River, though full deployment remained blocked by Israel’s continued presence in some areas.

Israel’s ambassador Danny Danon described the vote as a turning point. 

“Today is a historic day,” he said. “After 47 years of what was meant to be an interim presence, we can declare that UNIFIL is concluding its mandate on the border between Israel and Lebanon.”

Danon said UNIFIL “was meant to provide temporary stability while lasting solutions were being pursued” but had failed to prevent Hezbollah’s expansion. 

“UNIFIL has consistently overlooked Hezbollah’s vast military buildup, weapons depots and terrorist infrastructures discovered across southern Lebanon, some alarmingly close to UNIFIL’s positions,” he said.

The resolution also requests the U.N. Secretary-General to present, by June 1, 2026, options for continuing the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701. 

It also urges greater international and economic assistance to Lebanon to help reconstruction and notes “with grave concern” violations of the cessation of hostilities, including air and drone strikes on Lebanese territory.