Lebanon peacekeepers should stay, HRW says

Human Rights Watch called on the United Nations to keep an international peacekeeping force in Lebanon after UNIFIL's current mandate ends on December 31, 2026.

UNIFIL has about 7,500 personnel from nearly 50 countries and has operated in southern Lebanon since 1978. HRW urged the UN to extend the force's mandate until the security situation has improved enough to consider further reductions.

Louis Charbonneau, HRW's UN director, said removing UNIFIL without a robust international force would abandon millions of Lebanese civilians to an uncertain and potentially disastrous fate. He said peacekeepers are a deterrent against attacks on civilians and human rights abuses.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said peacekeepers will be needed after the current mandate expires. In June, he proposed options ranging from nearly 2,000 to more than 5,500 UN personnel to monitor the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and support Lebanon's armed forces.

France and Italy have said they wanted a post-UNIFIL coalition to strengthen Lebanon's sovereignty. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has called for UNIFIL to stay, and Lebanon's UN mission sent the Security Council a letter endorsed by 86 Lebanese lawmakers seeking an expanded mandate.