As Israel pushes past the Litani, Lebanese question the purpose of UNIFIL

Key points

• Israel has pushed past the Litani River, with the UNFIL peacekeeping force helpless in preventing an invasion.
• Beirut, Lebanon – The mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) ends on December 31, 2026, bringing to an end its 48-year peacekeeping role.
• This week, Israel advanced deeper into Lebanese territory than at any point since it ended a nearly two-decade occupation of the country’s south in 2000. The UN body’s inability to prevent the invasion has led to questions about UNIFIL’s mandate and its effectiveness in keeping the peace.
• UNIFIL has been attacked by both Israeli and Lebanese actors for various perceived failures.
• The Israelis often criticise the UN force for failing to disarm Hezbollah or other nonstate armed actors, although Resolution 1701 – the UN mandate for the body in Lebanon – does not stipulate this.