Western countries are considering the deployment of international forces to Lebanon alongside the Lebanese army in the event of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, a Western diplomat revealed. The idea involves supplementing the existing UNIFIL peacekeepers with a separate multi-national troop deployment, creating a presence trusted by both sides.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has expressed Lebanon’s readiness to strengthen the army in the south once a ceasefire is achieved. The U.S. envoy, Amos Hochstein, emphasized the need for more than just a commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
The push towards a “1701-plus” approach reflects the reality that the resolution’s implementation by both sides has fallen short. UNIFIL, originally established in 1978, has accused Israel of deliberate attacks on its positions in recent weeks.
Hezbollah, formed as a resistance group against Israeli occupation, remains armed despite Lebanon’s civil war. Previous multinational forces in Lebanon faced deadly attacks, highlighting the challenges of peacekeeping in the region.