Final UNIFIL draft resol. not yet distributed amid pressure, divisions
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UNIFIL's future in southern Lebanon remains uncertain as France proposes an extension, while "Israel" and the US push for a drawdown amid ongoing UNSC talks.
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A French UN peacekeeper looks through binoculars while standing on a hill overlooking Kfar Kila, a Lebanese border village destroyed by Israeli airstrikes and a ground offensive, South Lebanon, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)
The official and final draft resolution concerning the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL in southern Lebanon has not yet been distributed for a vote at the session scheduled for next Monday in the Security Council, as confirmed by an Al Mayadeen correspondent in New York on Saturday.
Our correspondent revealed that the Council's agenda indicates closed consultations will be held instead of an open voting session, explaining that this suggests the draft resolution is still being negotiated.
"Israel" is pressuring for an end to the UNIFIL's mandate in Lebanon, while the United States has supported a mission drawdown over a six to twelve-month period. Al Mayadeen's correspondent noted that the mission's mandate cannot be renewed without Washington's acceptance, confirming that the closure of peacekeeping missions is a prevalent trend these days.
Our correspondent attributed this trend of closing missions to three main factors: the deep political divisions paralyzing the UNSC's work, budget cuts by contributing nations, and the individual strategic priorities of those countries.
UNIFIL set to withdraw from Lebanon
The draft resolution, tabled by France, proposes a one-year extension to the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon that would lead to its gradual withdrawal.
The draft resolution stipulates an extension until August 31, 2026, and includes a clause in which the Security Council expresses its "determination to work towards the withdrawal of the UN force," so that the Lebanese government becomes "the sole guarantor of security in southern Lebanon."
While the Council is scheduled to vote on the draft on the 25th of this month before the mission's mandate expires, the resolution is facing opposition from both the United States and "Israel".
Earlier, on the 11th of this month, the Israeli channel i24 NEWS reported on a joint US-Israeli effort to bring about a dramatic change to UNIFIL's mandate or to dismantle the UN force completely. The channel's diplomatic affairs correspondent, Amichai Stein, stated that both "Israel" and the United States believe there is an opportunity this time to make it happen.
