Human Rights Watch has called on the United Nations Security Council to ensure the continued presence of an international force in southern Lebanon to protect civilians and deter rights violations by the Israeli military and Hezbollah. The organization argues that withdrawing peacekeepers without a robust replacement would leave millions of Lebanese civilians vulnerable to what it describes as potentially catastrophic consequences.
Security Deterioration and Displacement
In August 2025, the Security Council unanimously decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) until the end of 2026, marking its final extension before a gradual withdrawal. This decision preceded the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in March 2026. Since then, Israeli forces have displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians and occupied large swathes of southern Lebanon. Human Rights Watch stated that these forced displacements may constitute the war crime of forcible transfer.
Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch, emphasized that while UN missions are not a permanent solution, peacekeeping forces serve as a critical deterrent against attacks on civilians. He warned that removing UNIFIL without a strong international alternative would effectively abandon Lebanese civilians to an uncertain fate.
Diplomatic Deadlock and Alternatives
The group urged the UN to delay the withdrawal past December 31, 2026, until security conditions improve sufficiently to consider further reductions. Although 14 of the 15 Security Council members reportedly support postponing the pullout, the United States opposes any extension and holds veto power to block such measures. US officials had previously claimed in August 2025 that the security situation had improved drastically, but Human Rights Watch noted significant deterioration since then.
Despite a ceasefire declared on April 17 and ongoing US-brokered talks between Israel and Lebanon, attacks continue. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, Israeli strikes have killed over 4,333 people and injured more than 12,250 since early March. The UN also reported casualties among UNIFIL personnel during recent clashes.
Alternative proposals include a multinational coalition led by France and Italy, which is not a UN mission but might seek UN authorization. China’s UN envoy, Wu Cong, has also called for reconsidering the termination of UNIFIL’s mandate due to the lack of a genuine ceasefire. Human Rights Watch stressed that any future international presence must prioritize civilian protection, monitor human rights abuses, and support accountability efforts.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
