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Investigates Investigates Money Diaries Daft.ie Property Magazine Allianz Home Magazine The 42 Sports Magazine TG4 Entertainment Magazine The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories Irish troops on parade in Camp Shamrock in south Lebanon.Alamy Stock Photo The Morning Lead UN Security Council set to vote on future of Lebanon peacekeeping mission involving Irish troops The US wants the Lebanese government to dismantle Hezbollah’s power in the area patrolled by Unifil troops. 12.06am, 25 Aug 2025 Share options AS IRISH PEACEKEEPERS head out on patrol in the hills of south Lebanon today, diplomats in New York will be working to decide on whether their mission continues. It’s understood a vote scheduled for today will decide the future of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a 47-year-old multinational peacekeeping effort. Thousands have died in invasions and civil wars and other skirmishes since the mission started in 1978. Forty-seven Irish troops have also lost their lives on Unifil peacekeeping deployments. The United Nations Security Council, which includes the US, Britain, France, China and Russia, will decide on whether to renew the mandate that places Irish troops and more than 9,500 other soldiers from across the globe in Lebanon. The permanent members have a power of veto, and all eyes will be on how the US will vote. It’s likely the mandate will be renewed, following negotiations led by France, but it’s expected the US may use today’s meeting as an opportunity to say that this is the last time they will vote for such an extension. That means the ultimate question of Unifil’s future is kicked down the road. The US has indicated it will only vote in favour of renewal on the basis that Unifil ends in August 2026. One source said the US’s rationale is to facilitate the phased withdrawal of troops. A diplomatic source said representatives from the other member states serving in Lebanon – led by French diplomats and Government officials – will try to stop a withdrawal in 2026 with further talks. This is likely to be the subject of bilateral meetings between states in New York this week and in the coming weeks. Irish diplomats and Tánaiste Simon Harris has been engaged in discussions with other Unifil countries and with members of the UN Security Council. Simon Harris on a visit to troops in Lebanon in March.Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The mission UNIFIL patrols and maintains a demarcation zone known as the Blue Line. Established in 2006 it is not an international frontier but a contested withdrawal line drawn in the wake of an Israeli invasion of Lebanon. The Irish and their counterparts act as observers and responders to the occasional skirmish and other incidents. Despite the most recent ceasefire agreement, Israel continues to launch air strikes on alleged Hezbollah fighters. Meanwhile, sources in Lebanon have said that another militant group, Amal, is increasing in strength. While the fragile Lebanese government in Beirut is struggling to function, Hezbollah runs an almost mirror state in the south, providing health services and other functions. Advertisement Diplomatic sources said there is nearly always worry about Unifil’s renewal vote, but usually the mission gets approval to continue. However, this year has been different, in the context of conflicts across the Middle East, most notably Israel’s war on Gaza, as well as multi-front Israeli operations in Lebanon, Syria and Iran. The US, a close ally of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Israeli government, has been setting the conditions for an end to Unifil. Part of official Israel wants Unifil gone from south Lebanon, with many informed observers stating that the motive is to facilitate a deeper Israeli incursion north to ensure rockets stop falling on Israeli cities. The mandate for Unifil’s mission is to assist the Lebanese army in ensuring that there are no armed groups in the south. That has failed, given the volume of activity by Hezbollah in the area. However, on multiple visits to Lebanon, The Journal has seen the positive impact of the UN mission on the local population. Israel and the US allege that Unifil has not done enough to assist the Lebanese army in dismantling Hezbollah in the area. The latest conflagration between Hezbollah and Israel began in earnest with an invasion by Israel in October 2024. Lebanese Armed Forces soldiers raiding a Palestinian Refugee Camp in Beirut on Thursday searching for Hezbollah weapons.Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Barrack visits In the recent months, Tom Barrack, who is the Trump appointed US ambassador to Turkey, has been in Lebanon and Israel for meetings. He had previously travelled to assess the effectiveness or not of the Unifil mission. It is understood the US told the Lebanese they needed to disarm Hezbollah by the new year: a mammoth task. Many in security circles believe Hezbollah is stronger than the Lebanese Armed Forces, albeit its strength has been diminished by Israeli bombing. Last week, Barrack took a different tack after meeting Lebanese President President Joseph Aoun, calling on Israel to meet its undertakings in ceasefire agreements. Israel has failed to withdraw all its troops. Behind the scenes there is still extensive lobbying ongoing by Israel to have the US, which is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, end its support for the mission. Irish Lieutenant Colonel Conor King of the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers said last week that Unifil is a key assistance to retaining troops in the Irish Defence Forces and attracting new soldiers. Overseas service contributes to career progression and boosts morale and motivation, he said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. 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