The European Union has agreed to establish a new security mission in Lebanon as the country faces mounting uncertainty over the future of UN peacekeepers amid continued Israeli attacks and its occupation of parts of the south.
Approved on Monday at the request of Lebanese authorities, the mission will operate under the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, with an initial mandate of three years.
The move comes as the United States opposes extending the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which expires on 31 December 2026, raising concerns about a potential security vacuum along Lebanon's southern border.
While the European mission is intended to strengthen Lebanon's army and security institutions, it will not replace UNIFIL or carry out peacekeeping operations.
So what exactly will the new mission do, when will it begin, and what does it mean for Lebanon's security?
What is the EU's new mission in Lebanon?
The mission is a European initiative designed to strengthen Lebanon's security institutions, improve border management and support the Lebanese state's ability to exercise authority across its territory.
It was established by the Council of the European Union following a formal request from Lebanese authorities and will operate under a unified political mandate.
Unlike a conventional peacekeeping force, the mission will not deploy troops to patrol Lebanese territory or monitor ceasefire violations.
Instead, it will provide technical assistance, specialised training and strategic advice to the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces.
Its work will extend beyond southern Lebanon, with a broader focus on strengthening state institutions and improving security capabilities nationwide.
EU sources told The New Arab that the initiative is separate from ongoing discussions about UNIFIL's future.
When will the mission begin and how long will it last?
The mission could begin operations in late 2026 or early 2027, according to EU sources who spoke to TNA.
However, no final start date has been agreed, and the number of personnel who will participate remains undecided.
The EU is expected to announce further details as decisions are finalised.
The mission has been granted an initial three-year mandate, although the precise arrangements for its deployment and activities have yet to be confirmed.
Unlike UNIFIL, which operates under UN Security Council resolutions, the European mission does not require Security Council approval because it was established through a bilateral agreement between Lebanon and the EU.
What will the European mission actually do?
The mission will have two main components, military and civilian, working under a single political mandate.
The military component will support the Lebanese army through training and advisory assistance in several areas, including border security, maritime operations, intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance.
It will also help strengthen the army's ability to monitor and control land borders, combat smuggling and improve coordination between security units.
The civilian component will focus on Lebanon's Internal Security Forces, providing specialised training to improve operational capabilities and establish sustainable training programmes.
These will cover areas such as cybercrime investigations, anti-smuggling operations and internal security.
The mission will also help improve security management at Lebanese ports, including the Port of Beirut.
The broader objective is to strengthen Lebanon's state institutions and contribute to long-term stability in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Will the EU mission replace UNIFIL?
No. European officials have explicitly ruled out the mission replacing UNIFIL or serving as the alternative international force currently under discussion.
The two missions have fundamentally different responsibilities.
UNIFIL was established in 1978 under UN Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426, with its mandate expanded following the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah under Resolution 1701.
Its responsibilities include monitoring the cessation of hostilities, supporting the Lebanese army and helping the government extend its authority across southern Lebanon.
UNIFIL peacekeepers maintain a physical presence throughout the south, including along the Blue Line separating Lebanon and Israel.
They conduct patrols, monitor military activity and work alongside Lebanese forces.
The EU mission, by contrast, will not carry out operational deployments, patrol borders or monitor ceasefire violations.
EU sources said the missions would also have different geographical areas of focus, with the European initiative extending beyond southern Lebanon.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasised the distinction during her visit to Beirut last week, while stressing the importance of avoiding a security vacuum if UNIFIL withdraws.
Why is UNIFIL's future under threat?
UNIFIL's mandate is due to expire on 31 December 2026, amid US opposition to extending the peacekeeping operation.
Washington and Israel have criticised UNIFIL's performance, arguing that it failed to prevent Hezbollah from building its military infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
The United States has also pushed for new security arrangements, including direct military coordination between the Lebanese and Israeli armies.
Lebanon has resisted such proposals, instead calling for UNIFIL's mandate to be extended or for a replacement international force to operate under UN authority.
Lebanese MP Najat Aoun Saliba told The New Arab that 14 of the Security Council's 15 members were prepared to support extending UNIFIL's mandate, but Washington remained opposed.
Saliba is among 86 Lebanese MPs who submitted a legal memorandum calling on the Security Council to reconsider Resolution 2790, particularly the timing and mechanism of UNIFIL's withdrawal.
She warned that implementing the resolution under current conditions would be extremely difficult because Israeli forces continue occupying Lebanese territory.
One particular concern involves the transfer of UNIFIL positions and facilities to the Lebanese army.
Saliba argued that where these positions remain under Israeli occupation, transferring them to Israeli forces instead would effectively consolidate that occupation.
What happens to southern Lebanon if UNIFIL leaves?
The potential withdrawal has raised serious concerns about border monitoring, civilian protection and the ability of the Lebanese army to fill the gap.
Saliba warned that more than 10,000 residents of three southern Lebanese villages, Debel, Ain Ebel and Rmeish, could become completely isolated without an alternative to UNIFIL.
The peacekeeping force currently helps maintain a humanitarian corridor serving these communities, which have faced increasing pressure as Israeli occupation expands around their villages.
Residents are also dealing with the weakening presence of Lebanese state institutions and limited access to essential services.
Saliba warned that UNIFIL's departure would leave important border positions along the Blue Line without international observers.
"UNIFIL is responsible for the border points demarcated by the Blue Line," she said.
"If it leaves the south, these points that safeguard Lebanon's borders will be left open and unattended."
She stressed that the central concern was the absence of international monitors to help protect Lebanon's borders.
Could another international force replace UNIFIL?
Discussions are continuing over the possibility of establishing an alternative international force, although no agreement has been reached.
Lebanon wants any replacement to operate under the United Nations, maintaining international oversight of the southern border.
Washington has not ruled out an alternative force, according to Saliba, but the negotiations remain complicated by US and Israeli demands for new security arrangements.
Among the proposals is direct coordination between the Lebanese and Israeli militaries, an arrangement Beirut opposes.
The EU mission will operate independently of these negotiations and will not assume the responsibilities of any future international peacekeeping force.
For Lebanon, the European initiative could provide valuable long-term assistance to its military and security institutions.