The United States is weighing a decision to withdraw its support from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a longstanding peacekeeping mission stationed in southern Lebanon, as part of a broader effort to reduce international spending, according to reports by Israeli media.

The deliberations were first reported by Israel Hayom on Sunday and later corroborated by U.S. sources speaking to The Times of Israel. While a final decision has yet to be made, Washington is actively exploring the option of discontinuing its backing of UNIFIL.

If the U.S. proceeds with the move, Israel is expected to support the decision, the Israeli outlet reported. Israeli officials believe that aligning with the administration of President Donald Trump and strengthening bilateral defense ties are key motivations. Additionally, Tel Aviv has reportedly expressed confidence in the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), which have maintained relative stability along the southern frontier since the ceasefire agreement in November.

Israeli security officials believe the LAF’s coordination with Israeli forces has effectively curtailed Hezbollah’s ability to regroup and rearm, rendering much of UNIFIL’s work redundant.

“The LAF’s presence in the south has increasingly diminished Hezbollah’s operational freedom,” a security source told Israel Hayom, adding that this has reinforced the perception that the UN mission has outlived its usefulness.

Though no formal announcement has been made, American officials have made it clear that substantial reform is being demanded. In its current form, UNIFIL is seen by some in Washington as both inefficient and ineffective in fulfilling its mandate, particularly in limiting Hezbollah’s activities.

As UNIFIL’s mandate is renewed annually through a United Nations Security Council resolution, the U.S. could effectively terminate the mission by vetoing the next renewal vote, scheduled for August. Sources cited by The Jerusalem Post confirmed that both the U.S. and Israel have reached a consensus to bring the mission to an end, with the American side having already signaled its decision not to support the next mandate renewal. Israel, for its part, reportedly made no effort to lobby for the mission’s continuation.

Momentum toward ending U.S. support accelerated last week when the Trump administration submitted a sweeping $9.4 billion rescission package to Congress, targeting unspent budget allocations across various departments. Among the 22 proposed cuts was a significant reduction in peacekeeping contributions, specifically, a rescission of over $203 million from the State Department’s Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities (CIPA) account, which includes funding for UNIFIL.

In a justification provided to lawmakers, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) criticized UN peacekeeping operations for “waste and abuse,” citing “the abject failure of the Lebanon peacekeeping mission to contain Hezbollah."

The proposed rescission would eliminate unused funds from the $1.4 billion allocated to CIPA in fiscal year 2024.

“Enacting the rescission is a first step to engaging in strong reforms across the UN,” the document stated, underscoring the administration’s broader dissatisfaction with the effectiveness and accountability of multilateral peacekeeping efforts.

UNIFIL was established in 1978 and significantly expanded following the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. Its mandate includes monitoring the cessation of hostilities, supporting the LAF in southern Lebanon, and ensuring humanitarian access. Critics, however, have long questioned the mission’s ability to confront armed militias like Hezbollah, which maintains significant influence in the region.