From the Liveblog of
Thursday, August 28, 2025
Israel welcomes UN move to end UNIFIL peacekeeping force after next year
Nava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.
Israel welcomes the United Nations Security Council’s decision to terminate the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon at the end of next year.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar hails the move and credits Washington for enabling it, saying in a statement from his office: “Israel appreciates the stance of the United States, and particularly that of Secretary of State Rubio, which made this outcome possible. US involvement in shaping a more secure environment for the states of the region is welcome.”
“The recent developments in Lebanon are positive developments. Israel will continue to ensure that these gains are not eroded and that the security of the residents of the north is safeguarded,” he continues.
The Foreign Ministry adds that ahead of the Security Council discussion on UNIFIL, it “coordinated interagency preparations together with the IDF and the National Security Council,” and held talks with “key international partners,” in efforts it claims led to the decision to end UNIFIL’s mandate.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, celebrates the “good news” in a video message, saying UNIFIL “has failed in its mission and allowed Hezbollah to become the region’s most serious threat.”
“The Lebanese government now needs to take responsibility and ensure that no other force is present on its border with Israel,” he adds.
The mandate is set to formally expire in December 2026, with UNIFIL troops scheduled to withdraw from Lebanon during 2027.
While Israel had pushed for the observer force’s mandate to be terminated even sooner, arguing it had not sufficiently acted against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, its ally the US ultimately joined the rest of the Security Council in backing UNIFIL remaining in Lebanon for another year.
The Times of Israel Community.