UNIFIL: We are working with the United Nations and the Lebanese Army for a smooth transition of tasks before our withdrawal

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Major General Diodato Abaniara, head of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and its commander, said today, Saturday, that it is essential to ensure that other UN agencies and the Lebanese army are capable of taking over the tasks currently performed by the force before it begins its withdrawal at the end of this year.

Abaniara spoke to Reuters in southern Lebanon from one of UNIFIL's sites that has been monitoring combat operations in southern Lebanon for nearly 50 years.

Since the outbreak of a new war between Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah in March, the force has also provided security monitoring for humanitarian aid convoys directed to residents of a small number of predominantly Christian towns in southern Lebanon that have been besieged by Israeli forces. Residents in most other parts of southern Lebanon have been forced to flee due to Israeli airstrikes and evacuation orders.

The United Nations Security Council has ordered UNIFIL to begin withdrawing by the end of 2026, raising concerns about the potential continuation of aid delivery and how the force's positions will be transferred to the Lebanese army.

Abaniara told Reuters: "There are other UN entities here in the south, so it is very important for us to implement a very smooth transition to other entities or pave the way for a new mission in the future."

He added that UNIFIL is already working with the UN team concerned with Lebanon to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid in areas controlled by Israel, and to exchange information with the Lebanese army regarding "sensitive areas and how it can manage this situation."

Abaniara acknowledged that it may be "extremely difficult" to hand over some UNIFIL sites to the Lebanese army, given that more than half of them are currently located within areas controlled by Israeli forces.

Diplomats fear that the departure of the UNIFIL force will result in the United Nations losing its "eyes and ears" in southern Lebanon.

Abaniara spoke to Reuters at a site overlooking the town of Mansouri, where Israeli forces have been carrying out demolition operations since issuing orders for residents to leave in June, despite a ceasefire being in effect. Reuters reporters witnessed heavy machinery in the town destroying trees and several multi-story houses.

Abaniara described the demolition operations as "another violation" of the Security Council resolutions regarding Lebanon. The Israeli army claims it is destroying infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah across southern Lebanon.

As the U.S.-backed plan for the Lebanese army to take over the disarmament of Hezbollah and establish control over southern Lebanon falters, diplomatic efforts are accelerating to address the vacuum that will be left by the withdrawal of UNIFIL.

Lebanon wants to extend the mandate of the force while other countries are discussing the formation of a new multinational mission, although it remains unclear what kind of mandate it will have.

Abaniara stated that extending the mandate of the force would be a "great honor," but he added that if a new resolution from the Security Council is not issued, the force will have to end its operations at the end of the year.

He added, "This is not a long time... The presence of the United Nations in the south is extremely important, and for me, it is more important today than ever."