UNIFIL

The Lebanese government is pushing to extend the mandate of UNIFIL peacekeepers in southern Lebanon before it expires on December 31, fearing a security vacuum if the troops withdraw. The issue touches on Israel, Hezbollah and the risk of renewed escalation, with the United States and European Union drawn into discussions over the future of the UN mission.

The EU, France and Italy are considering what role they could play in Lebanon once the UN peacekeeping mission UNIFIL winds down, according to Euractiv. The discussions focus on how European governments might continue supporting stability on the Israel-Lebanon border and the Lebanese armed forces after the mission's mandate ends. The debate highlights Europe's effort to remain influential in Lebanon's security arrangements as the UN presence recedes.