Lebanon Seeks Follow-Up Force on Israel Border Post-UNIFIL

Lebanon's Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, has urged the deployment of a follow-up force along the southern border after the UN peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, ends its mission in 2026. The proposal aims to assist Lebanese troops in managing border security, amid ongoing tensions with Israel and Hezbollah.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has called for a follow-up force to be stationed along the southern border with Israel following the UN peacekeeping mission's end in 2026. Salam presented this proposal to a UN delegation in Beirut, emphasizing the force's potential to support Lebanese troops in maintaining security.

This comes after the UN Security Council decided in August to terminate the longstanding United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which has been pivotal in monitoring the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Criticism from the Trump administration led to the reduction of US funding, impacting the force's future.

Meanwhile, tensions remain high in the region. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed openness to international contingents maintaining presence post-UNIFIL. Recent skirmishes, including Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, underscore the complexities, as Hezbollah's leader condemned political moves perceived as favorable to Israel.

(With inputs from agencies.)