Germany – German Foreign Minister Johannes Wadephul intends to work within the institutions of the European Union and the United Nations. The goal is to extend the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) beyond the end of 2026, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation.
This came after Wadephul’s visit on Friday to the German naval frigate “Sachsen-Anhalt.” This frigate is monitoring the maritime area off the coast of Lebanon as part of the UN mission. During the visit, the minister said, “Stability in this region is a prerequisite for security and stability in Germany and Europe.”
Last August, the Security Council decided to extend UNIFIL’s mandate “for the last time” until the end of 2026. This decision came with the acceptance of Israel’s request to eventually dissolve the force. Israel maintains that UNIFIL has failed to prevent Hezbollah from strengthening its military capabilities. It argues that UNIFIL’s reports have not reflected the reality on the ground, creating a false impression of stability. According to the resolution, the international force will be withdrawn in an orderly and gradual manner, beginning in 2027 under pressure from the United States.
وتسعى الحكومة الألمانية إلى تمديد ولاية اليونيفيل بما يتجاوز الاتفاق الحالي. تعتبر أن نشر القوات الدولية استثمار مجدٍ لمواجهة تكرار أزمات اللاجئين. وقال الوزير: “تتكرر أزمات اللاجئين في هذه المنطقة، لذا فإن نشر قواتنا استثمار مُجدٍ”.
For its part, the Lebanese government welcomed further international involvement and asked Europe, and Germany in particular, to increase support.
Fadewul concluded a visit that included Syria and Lebanon. In Damascus, he expressed doubts about the possibility of Syrian refugees returning from Germany to their homeland, citing the devastation caused by the war. In Beirut, he met with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and several other officials.
