The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) plans to withdraw most of its troops by mid-2027, a spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday, following the expiration of the peacekeeping mandate later this year.

UNIFIL has served for decades as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon, assisting the Lebanese army in dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure near the Israeli border, especially after the recent conflict involving the Iran-backed group.

Under pressure from the United States and Israel, the UN Security Council voted last year to end UNIFIL’s mandate on December 31, 2026, with an “orderly and safe drawdown and withdrawal” to be completed within one year.

Spokesperson Kandice Ardiel stated, “UNIFIL is planning to draw down and withdraw all, or substantially all, uniformed personnel by mid-year 2027,” completing the pullout by the end of the year. She added that after operations cease in December, the process of sending personnel and equipment home and transferring UN positions to Lebanese authorities will begin.

During the withdrawal, UNIFIL will continue to carry out limited tasks, including protecting UN personnel and bases and overseeing a safe departure.

Despite a November 2024 ceasefire aimed at ending over a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, Israel has maintained regular strikes on Lebanon, claiming they target Hezbollah, and has stationed troops in five border areas. UNIFIL has frequently reported Israeli fire near its personnel since the truce.

Ardiel also noted that UNIFIL had reduced the number of peacekeepers in south Lebanon by nearly 2,000 in recent months, with a few hundred more scheduled to leave by May. The current force comprises about 7,500 peacekeepers from 48 countries. She explained that the reduction is primarily due to UN-wide financial constraints and cost-saving measures, and is not directly linked to the mandate’s conclusion.

Lebanese authorities have expressed a desire for continued international troop presence in the south after UNIFIL’s departure, even in limited numbers, and have urged European countries to maintain a presence. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot suggested that Lebanon’s army should take over responsibilities once the peacekeepers leave, while Italy has indicated its intention to keep a military presence in the country.