Lebanon PM warns of security risks if UN peacekeeping force withdraws

Lebanon's government has raised alarm over the planned withdrawal of the United Nations peacekeeping mission, with officials stressing the importance of preventing a security void in the crisis-ridden nation. The UN Security Council last month voted to terminate Unifil's mandate at year-end, a decision driven by sustained pressure from the United States.

The Lebanese Prime Minister emphasised the critical need to "avert a vacuum" should the international force exit, highlighting concerns that an unmanaged departure could destabilise the fragile security situation along Lebanon's border regions. The country has faced mounting challenges from armed groups and cross-border tensions in recent years.

Unifil has maintained a presence in southern Lebanon since 1978, primarily tasked with monitoring the border with Israel and supporting Lebanese state authority. The force's withdrawal would mark a significant shift in the international security architecture in the region.

Lebanon's position reflects broader anxieties among regional analysts about the timing and execution of any UN force departure. Officials have indicated that any transition must be carefully managed to prevent security deterioration and ensure that Lebanese state institutions can adequately fill the operational gap left by the peacekeepers.