UN Calls for Extension of UNIFIL Amid Escalating Violence in Southern Lebanon

The United Nations Security Council’s unanimous 2025 resolution extended the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) until the end of 2026, with a planned phased withdrawal. Human Rights Watch (HRW) now urges the Council to delay that exit, citing a sharp rise in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah that began on March 2, 2026. Israeli forces have killed more than 4,333 Lebanese civilians and wounded over 12,250, according to the Ministry of Health, while mass displacement has continued despite a ceasefire declared on April 17. UNIFIL peacekeepers themselves have been targeted, with several personnel killed in the latest clashes. The United States, a permanent Security Council member, has signaled opposition to any extension, but 14 of the 15 Council members reportedly support a delay. HRW stresses that UNIFIL’s presence is a crucial deterrent against attacks on civilians and that a vacuum could lead to further abuses. Alternatives are being explored, including a multinational coalition led by France, Italy, and Spain, and proposals from China and Turkey, but none match UNIFIL’s size or mandate. The Council’s decision will shape the protection of millions of Lebanese civilians in a region where the ceasefire remains fragile.