Residents of communities in southern Lebanon are bracing for a difficult transition as the United Nations peacekeeping mission prepares to leave at the end of the year.
UNIFIL has operated in the area for decades and now plays a practical role beyond monitoring the conflict: its convoys help move food and supplies through territory affected by Israeli military control and damaged roads.
People in towns such as Rmeich say they fear losing one of their few dependable links with the rest of Lebanon. The mission’s drawdown follows a final extension of its mandate, supported by the U.N. Security Council after years of disagreement over UNIFIL’s effectiveness.
Lebanon and France have pushed for a continued international presence, warning that a complete withdrawal could leave a security and humanitarian gap. Israel has argued that the mission failed to prevent Hezbollah’s military buildup.
Reporting based on Reuters, U.N. information and regional reporting. Featured image: Saifee Art via Unsplash, used illustratively.
