Human Rights Watch urges UN to extend UNIFIL mandate in Lebanon

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the United Nations to extend the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) beyond its scheduled end on December 31, 2026. The organization warns that withdrawing the peacekeeping force without a robust international replacement could leave millions of Lebanese civilians vulnerable to human rights abuses and physical violence.

UNIFIL, which has been stationed in southern Lebanon since 1978, currently consists of approximately 7,500 personnel from nearly 50 countries. The mission is tasked with supporting the Lebanese armed forces, monitoring ceasefires, and protecting civilians under imminent threat. HRW argues that the force serves as a crucial deterrent against attacks during periods of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

The decision to begin a phased withdrawal follows a UN Security Council decision made in August 2025. However, recent escalations in hostilities and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians in southern Lebanon have intensified calls for continued international presence. While UN chief Antonio Guterres has suggested that peacekeepers will be necessary after the current mandate expires, any extension may face opposition from the United States and Israel.