Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday (June 26th) welcomed the formation of an international coalition after the end of the mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)

In a statement published by the Lebanese presidency, Aoun considered that the announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in this direction is a "sincere expression" of the international commitment to support Lebanon's sovereignty and stability, leading to the extension of the authority of the Lebanese Armed Forces over its entire territory, especially in the "southern border areas."

Aoun stressed that his country looks forward to "any international formula that strengthens the capabilities of its armed forces, preserves its territorial integrity, and prevents its territory from becoming an arena for escalation or regional tensions," reiterating Lebanon's openness to coordination with its international partners in order to serve the interests of the Lebanese people and consolidate stability in the region.

He expressed his appreciation for the joint Italian-French affirmation of the need not to leave any "dangerous vacuum" in the post-UNIFIL phase, noting that this approach "coincides with the firm Lebanese vision" that affirms that the Lebanese army is the only and real guarantee for the security of the south and the preservation of its sovereignty.

Macron and Meloni talk about a UNIFIL alternative

Macron and Meloni announced on Thursday their intention to launch an international coalition in support of Lebanon after the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expires at the end of this year.

Macron, speaking at a joint press conference with Meloni after the 36th Franco-Italian summit held in Antibes in southern France, said the two countries wanted to "launch an alliance for a post-UNIFIL mechanism, in coordination with the European Union and the United Nations, in order to strengthen the sovereignty of Lebanon and its armed forces and prevent its territory from becoming an arena for regional escalation."

UNIFIL to leave Lebanon at the end of 2026

UNIFIL currently has approximately 7,500 troops from about 50 countries deployed in southern Lebanon near the Blue Line, and the force has been deployed since 1978 in southern Lebanon following the first Israeli invasion established by the Security Council under resolutions 425 and 426 of March 19 of the same year, to be a monitoring force and support for the Lebanese state in one of the most sensitive regions of the Middle East.

Over the decades, UNIFIL's mandate has evolved from its primary role of confirming Israel's withdrawal and restoring security and stability, to a broader role after the July 2006 war by Resolution 1701, which gave it additional powers including monitoring the cessation of hostilities, supporting the LAF's southward deployment, and ensuring that the area between the Blue Line and the Litani River is free of any armed manifestations except for the Lebanese Armed Forces and UN forces.

UNIFIL has a unique naval force in the history of the United Nations, established in 2006 at the request of the Lebanese government, and is concerned with preventing the entry of unauthorized weapons through the sea, in addition to training and raising the readiness of the Lebanese Navy, and in August 2025, the UN Security Council, under pressure from the United States, Israel, decided to end the UNIFIL mission on December 31, 2026.