Macron Welcomes the Extension of UNIFIL in Southern Lebanon

SadaNews - French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed on Friday morning the UN Security Council's extension of the peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) until 2027, emphasizing at the same time the need for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese border points still occupied by them, according to "Agence France-Presse."

Macron stated in a post on the "X" platform following phone talks with his Lebanese counterpart Joseph Aoun and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam: "I commended the courageous decisions made by the Lebanese executive authority towards restoring exclusive control. I encourage the Lebanese government to adopt the plan that will be presented to the Cabinet for this purpose."

He added that the French special envoy to Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, "will visit Lebanon to work hand in hand with the authorities on our priorities as soon as they are adopted."

The UN Security Council extended the UNIFIL mission for the last time on Thursday until the end of next year in preparation for its withdrawal in 2027, amid American and Israeli demands for its departure following the war between the Israeli state and "Hezbollah."

Macron emphasized in his post that "the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and the end of all violations of Lebanese sovereignty are essential conditions for implementing this plan."

He added: "France has always shown its readiness to play a role in handing over the points still occupied by Israel."

UNIFIL has been deployed in southern Lebanon along the border with Israel since March 1978 and currently includes more than ten thousand soldiers from about fifty countries.

France, which is tasked with this file at the Security Council, initially proposed a one-year extension for UNIFIL, merely mentioning an "intention" to work on its withdrawal.

However, in the face of a potential American veto, and after presenting several drafts and repeatedly postponing the vote on the resolution to extend the mission of this force, the Security Council decided on Thursday to end the mission of these troops after 16 months.

The Council's resolution stated to "extend the mandate of UNIFIL for the last time (...) until December 31, 2026, and to commence a coordinated and secure withdrawal process starting December 31, 2026, to be completed within one year."

According to the text, by this date, the Lebanese army will be the "sole guarantor of security" in the south of the country.

The Security Council's decision was issued after Lebanese authorities committed to disarming "Hezbollah" before the end of the year as part of the implementation of a ceasefire that ended a devastating war between Israel and the party in 2024, which lasted more than a year.

The Lebanese government made these commitments under American pressure and fears that Israel would carry out threats of a new military campaign unless the party, backed by Iran, was disarmed.

The ceasefire stipulated the withdrawal of the party from the area south of the Litani River (about 30 km from the border with Israel) and dismantling its military infrastructure therein, in exchange for enhancing the deployment of the Lebanese army and UNIFIL.

The agreement also mandated restricting weapons to legitimate Lebanese forces and the withdrawal of Israel from points it had intruded upon during the conflict. However, the Israeli state kept its forces in five strategic heights and continues to carry out strikes almost daily.