UN peacekeeping mission on the Israel-Lebanon border since 1978
Lebanon has deployed its army to Zawtar al‑Gharbiya as part of a US‑brokered framework that ties phased Israeli withdrawals to Lebanese army control and verified removal of Hezbollah arms. Israel has continued strikes and presence near some villages, residents report damage, and the US is coordinating pilot‑zone implementation.
Unmanned explosive drones targeted a military vehicle in the Ali Taher Ridge area inside the Israeli-backed security zone in Southern Lebanon. The Israeli army says there were no injuries and condemns Hezbollah for violating the ceasefire. Soldiers continue operations in the ridge as Lebanon’s army begins pilot zone deployments nearby.
Lebanon’s President and Turkey’s leader have discussed ways to expand Ankara’s role in security for southern Lebanon as UNIFIL’s mandate ends. While Erdogan signals interest in contributing to a post-UNIFIL framework, observers caution that Israel may oppose Ankara’s involvement. The talks come amid broader regional tensions and stalled diplomacy.
The latest Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have killed and wounded civilians and soldiers as Israeli-Hezbollah tensions rise. Negotiations in Rome over a June ceasefire accord have been disrupted as fighting continues, with a fragile truce in question and the pilot-zone framework under renewed scrutiny.
Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Lebanons Legal Agenda have released investigations finding that Israeli strikes on 22 April in al-Tiri have targeted journalists Amal Khalil and Zeinab Faraj, described the attacks as war crimes and said Israeli forces impeded rescue efforts. Israel has denied deliberately targeting journalists and said it struck Hezbollah-linked targets.
Lebanon and Israel have identified a shortlist of potential foreign partners to verify Hezbollah’s disarmament, with the United States overseeing which nations participate. Negotiations remain in the early stages, and the next round is scheduled for early September.
Lebanon and Israel are pursuing a US-brokered framework to disarm Hezbollah, withdraw Israeli forces, and deploy the Lebanese army in pilot zones. Negotiations mark a renewed push despite ongoing clashes and demolitions in southern Lebanon. UN and international players watch closely as talks proceed toward potential regional stabilization.
The Israeli military has continued strikes against Hamas in Gaza, killing two senior militants and destroying weapons facilities; Israeli forces report ongoing firefights along the Yellow Line and in central Gaza as they aim to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its capabilities. Kites and mutual border tensions persist as the ceasefire framework faces renewed stress.
Lebanon and Israel are engaged in direct talks mediated by the US, after Hezbollah-triggered conflict escalations. A framework signed in June calls for Hezbollah disarmament and a staged Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon, with Greece and Athens’ arms deal cited as regional context. Lebanon seeks renewed UNIFIL support as violence persists.
Israeli airstrikes in south Lebanon have killed civilians and damaged infrastructure, including a hospital and homes in Nabatieh, Kfar Rumman and Nabatieh al-Fawqa, despite a US-brokered truce. The fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands and renewed calls for Hezbollah disarmament and Israeli withdrawal.
Lebanon and Israel have released five detainees amid ongoing US-brokered talks. The transfers, facilitated by the ICRC, come as Beirut and Tel Aviv pursue a broader framework to restore sovereignty and ease hostilities. Israeli operations in southern Lebanon continue alongside the prisoner deals.
Leaders and senior officials gather in Paris for US-mediated talks on disarming Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and replacing UNIFIL with a multinational force. The discussions come as Israel maintains a military footprint in Lebanon and faces ongoing strikes by Hezbollah, while Lebanon seeks to strengthen its army’s authority and sovereignty. A donor conference for Lebanese forces is expected later this year or early 2027.
The UN mission in southern Lebanon has begun preparations for a post-UNIFIL security order as the 2026 mandate nears its end. Paris-hosted discussions, French-Italian proposals for a multinational follow-on force, and US-backed frameworks aim to prevent a power vacuum as the Lebanese army and security forces assume greater regional duties.
UNIFIL faces a year-end withdrawal as Lebanon strengthens its army deployments in the south. Israeli strikes, Lebanese army positions, and Deir Mimas clashes shape a rapidly evolving security picture amid international talks on a donor conference and future peacekeeping arrangements.
The Lebanese army says a blast in Nabatieh Al-Fawqa wounded a soldier and three civilians during an escort operation to inspect properties. Initial reports of an Israeli strike have given way to the army's conclusion that a suspicious object caused the blast. The broader conflict involving Hezbollah and Israel continues to influence the region, with US-brokered talks and pilot zones shaping the security landscape.
The European Union has established the European Union Support Mission in Lebanon (EUSM Lebanon) to train and advise the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces as UNIFIL winds down. The mission will run for an initial three years, with two components—military and civilian—focused on border security, maritime operations, cybercrime, anti-smuggling and sovereignty, while not replacing UN peacekeepers.
Israel has warned it will seize further southern Lebanon territory and evacuate Beirut’s Dahieh district if Hezbollah aligns with Iran in an attack on Israel. The remarks come amid rising tensions as Hezbollah eyes a broader confrontation, with Israel preparing a potential ground offensive in the south.
UNIFIL’s mandate in southern Lebanon is due to expire at end-2026. Lebanon has pressed for a one-year extension; France, Italy and EU partners are weighing a successor arrangement as tensions linger along the Blue Line. The UN and Lebanon stress the need for continued monitoring, humanitarian support and stability as the drawdown proceeds.