The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has presented three options to the Security Council aimed at resolving the long-standing conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah militants. The proposals come as the 8,100-strong UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon is set to expire on December 31.
All three options would maintain a UN military presence to monitor the boundary between Israel and Lebanon, known as the Blue Line, support the deployment of Lebanese forces across the country, and strengthen political efforts to end hostilities. The proposals follow a unanimous Security Council vote in August 2025 to terminate the UNIFIL mission, bowing to demands from the United States and Israel.
The 2006 UN resolution that ended a month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah called for the disarmament of Hezbollah, withdrawal of Israeli forces, and deployment of the Lebanese army as the sole military force in the area. None of these conditions have been fully implemented, and fighting has persisted despite a nominal ceasefire.
Guterres stressed that a UN military presence is essential for de-escalation, dialogue, and coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces. The proposed force sizes range from 5,525 to 1,980 personnel, including some unarmed military observers. The largest force would be best placed to monitor developments along the Blue Line.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the secretary-general hopes the Security Council will make a decision soon. Six UN peacekeepers have been killed in recent months in southern Lebanon, a Hezbollah stronghold.
