The early withdrawal of some United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) units has sparked concerns that the international peacekeeping mission along the Israeli border could collapse before its scheduled exit at the end of 2026.

Lebanese sources told Erem News that the accelerated pullout of UNIFIL forces may be aimed at creating a security vacuum along the border, potentially facilitating a coordinated Israeli ground attack on Lebanon with U.S. backing to eliminate what remains of Hezbollah’s arsenal.

According to the sources, several UNIFIL units have already begun redeploying to areas other than their previous positions along the Lebanese-Israeli border, in preparation for a full withdrawal in the near future. The early drawdown, they said, is the result of intense U.S.-Israeli pressure that compelled participating countries to speed up the removal of their forces.

International reports suggest that the pressure, which limited UNIFIL’s mandate extension to December 2026, is part of a broader Israeli-U.S. strategy to create a “security vacuum” in southern Lebanon. Analysts say such a gap would grant Israel greater military freedom of movement without international oversight.

On August 28, 2025, the UN Security Council extended UNIFIL’s mission until the end of 2026 but required a “gradual and secure withdrawal” prior to that date, following a U.S.-French proposal coordinated with Israel.