Israel is weighing the early introduction of a temporary international verification force into Lebanon in the near future amid escalating strikes across the sector, Channel 14 News reported for the first time Monday evening. The initiative is part of preparations to conclude UNIFIL’s operational mandate, designed to prevent the United Nations from maintaining a substantial foothold in southern Lebanon in the “day after.”
UNIFIL’s operational mandate is set to expire on December 31. After that date, the peacekeeping mission is scheduled to halt operations and begin an orderly withdrawal from Lebanon. Israeli defense officials are determined to prevent a scenario where year-end arrives without an operational alternative ready to deploy on the ground.
2+The primary concern in Jerusalem is that an operational vacuum would allow the UN to exploit the gap, push to extend its existing presence, or engineer a new framework that gives it continued leverage in southern Lebanon. Consequently, officials are assessing an expedited rollout to deploy a temporary international verification force before UNIFIL’s mandate expires, establishing early operational continuity.
Among the candidate nations Israel is considering for inclusion in the multinational force are Greece, Switzerland, Italy, and Indonesia. Conversely, Jerusalem has categorically ruled out participation by France, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
2+Israel’s red line remains unequivocal: any nation actively working against Israel on the global stage—whether through adverse domestic legislation, hostile diplomatic measures, or initiatives in international courts—will not be granted a foothold in security architectures directly impacting vital Israeli security interests.
The initiative is being explored as military pressure intensifies across southern Lebanon, running parallel to diplomatic pushes aimed at disarming Hezbollah and expanding the deployment and responsibilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces on the ground.
2+Meanwhile, as reported on Channel 14’s main broadcast last week, direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to resume next week. The verification mechanism’s architecture and post-UNIFIL security arrangements are expected to dominate the agenda.