Israeli security officials favor direct coordination with Lebanese forces

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate in southern Lebanon is set to expire at the end of the year, as Israel’s security establishment assessed in recent weeks that the UN peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) has become increasingly hostile toward the IDF and Israel.

As a result, officials deem it preferable to engage directly with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), according to a report on the KAN News program "This Morning."

Among the issues cited by Israeli security are coordination problems with the LAF and public statements released by UNIFIL against the IDF and the Israeli government. In an unusual development, senior defense officials told U.S. officials, “It would be preferable for the IDF to operate directly with the Lebanese Army, without UNIFIL’s presence or escort near the border,” adding, “UNIFIL does more harm than good.”

Since the ceasefire on the northern front, coordination between the IDF and the LAF has been carried out through the U.S. as part of the ceasefire implementation mechanism. Israeli security officials have not ruled out the possibility of conducting direct talks with the LAF in the future to maintain calm in the frontline communities, provided that Lebanese forces continue efforts to dismantle Hezbollah’s weapons.

A European-backed plan to introduce international monitoring along the Lebanon-Syria and Lebanon-Israel borders was reported by the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar in December 2025. The report stated that Israel opposes the establishment of UNIFIL-style oversight along its border with Lebanon and prefers that Great Britain assume the role, which would include the establishment of observation towers along Lebanon’s northern, southern and eastern land borders.

Last July, Asharq Al-Awsat reported that Britain formally proposed supplying Lebanon with observation towers along its border with Israel, to reinforce regional stability and security and guarantee the implementation of UN Resolution 1701.

The report said the proposal was presented during British Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s visit to Beirut. Sources indicated that Lebanon did not reject the offer but told Britain the immediate priority was to stabilize the ceasefire.