France leads European pushback against move to end UN Lebanon mission

French soldiers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) march during the Bastille Day parade, Monday, 14 July 2025 in Paris. AP - Michel Euler

France and its European partners are resisting Washington’s push to end the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon – UNIFIL – arguing its presence remains essential for stability along Israel’s northern border.

The United Nations Security Council began to debate Monday a resolution drafted by France to extend the UN peacekeeping force in south Lebanon for a year with the ultimate aim to withdraw it.