President Emmanuel Macron of France and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Thursday their intention to form a multinational coalition to succeed the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) when its mandate expires at the end of 2026. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun immediately welcomed the initiative, describing it as “a sincere expression of the international commitment to supporting Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability.” The announcement, made after bilateral talks in Antibes, France, signals a European-led effort to maintain a security architecture in southern Lebanon once the nearly five-decade-old UN mission withdraws.

According to the French and Italian leaders, the proposed coalition would operate in coordination with the European Union and the United Nations, with the stated aim of preventing a “dangerous security vacuum” and ensuring that Lebanese territory does not become a platform for regional escalation. In Beirut, President Aoun stressed that the Lebanese Armed Forces remain “the only real guarantee for the security of the south and the preservation of national sovereignty,” and expressed openness to any international formula that strengthens the army’s capabilities and preserves territorial integrity. Italian officials indicated that discussions included the possibility of convening an international conference on Lebanon to define the coalition’s mandate, composition, and rules of engagement, though no operational details have been finalised.

The move comes as UNIFIL’s presence is set to conclude under a timeline imposed by the UN Security Council. Last August, under pressure from the United States, the Council decided to end the mission’s mandate on 31 December 2026. UNIFIL, which has deployed around 7,500 troops from nearly 50 countries since 1978, was expanded after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah through Resolution 1701. That resolution called for a cessation of hostilities, the disarmament of Hezbollah, and the withdrawal of its fighters north of the Litani River. However, Hezbollah did not comply with these provisions, and the mission has been unable to enforce them, leaving a persistent source of tension along the Blue Line.

Viewed from Washington, the push to terminate UNIFIL reflects long-standing criticism that the force has failed to prevent Hezbollah’s rearmament and has constrained Israeli military operations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has proposed alternative configurations for a continued UN presence, ranging from nearly 2,000 to over 5,500 personnel, but these face opposition from the United States and Israel. The French-Italian initiative, while still in a preparatory phase, represents an attempt by two of UNIFIL’s largest troop contributors to shape the post-mandate landscape and avoid an abrupt withdrawal that could destabilise the border area. The dossier now moves to broader diplomatic consultations, with a potential international conference expected to clarify the coalition’s framework before the end of the year.