Israel Occupies Southern Lebanon as UN Peacekeepers Prepare Withdrawal

The Cabinet of Israel currently occupies nearly 6% of Lebanese territory, establishing a security buffer zone following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hezbollah in June. The Israeli defense minister stated that troops demolished more than 20,000 homes to maintain security, an action that has displaced over 300,000 people and leveled entire villages, including Shamaa. Israeli flags and Hebrew road signs now mark these areas, where infrastructure has been destroyed by explosives, airstrikes, and bulldozers.

Simultaneously, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is preparing to withdraw as its mandate concludes at the end of 2026. The mission's departure, pressured by the United States and Israel, threatens to sever critical humanitarian links for residents of Christian towns like Rmeich, who rely on UNIFIL to escort food and fuel convoys through Israeli checkpoints. While the Lebanese government has petitioned for a mandate extension, diplomats consider it unlikely.

If the mandate expires, over 7,500 peacekeepers will begin handing their positions over to the Lebanese Armed Forces on January 1, 2027. The Israeli military maintains that UNIFIL's role is not vital to humanitarian efforts and that the security zone is intended solely to clear the region of Hezbollah.