Israel, U.S. agree to end UNIFIL mission in southern Lebanon

In the Middle East.

A UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon set up almost 50 years ago looks to be shuttered amid U.S. intentions to oppose renewing its mandate.

Lee Eun-jin explains.

Israeli media reported on Sunday that the United States and Israel agreed that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, should cease its operations in southern Lebanon.

According to the Israel Hayom newspaper, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration decided not to renew the UNIFIL mandate, citing cost reduction as the reason, and Israel reportedly "did not try to convince them otherwise."

Reports say that Israel considers the presence of the Lebanese Armed Forces to be much more effective in beating back the threat of Hezbollah, and that many of UNIFIL's operations in the region were redundant.

UNIFIL's mandate is renewed annually through a UN Security Council resolution in August. As a permanent member of the Security Council, the U.S. could simply veto the next resolution, which would bring an end to UNIFIL's operations for the first time in 47 years since its establishment in 1978.

However, Israel Hayom noted that another permanent member of the Security Council, France, is a long-time supporter of the UNIFIL. If France opposes the plan to cease operations, there may be a compromise to gradually scale down the mission rather than abruptly halting it.

UNIFIL was deployed along the Israel-Lebanon border in 1978 to maintain peace after Israel first invaded Lebanon during clashes with Palestinian armed groups. Currently, about 11,000 troops and civilians from 48 countries are stationed there.

According to the Jerusalem Post, no officials from the United States, Israel, or the UN have addressed the announcement.

Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.