UN peacekeeping chief warns of security vacuum as missions end in Lebanon and Western Sahara

The UN mission in Western Sahara concluded on 31 October after 35 years of operation. In Lebanon, a peacekeeping force that has patrolled the Israel-Lebanon border since 1978 is set to withdraw by year's end.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, raised concerns about the potential for a security vacuum following the departure of peacekeepers. He questioned the stability of the region without a third-party presence between the Lebanese army and the Israel Defense Forces.

Approximately 7,500 peacekeepers remain with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which serves as a mediator between the two armies, monitors border violations, and facilitates humanitarian aid. Lacroix reported that Lebanese officials expressed fears of increased border incidents without UN support.

The Blue Line, a UN-drawn boundary marking Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, faces uncertainty. Around 10,000 people live between the Blue Line and Israel’s forward defense line, with aid access heavily reliant on UNIFIL. The UN Secretary-General proposed options in June, but the Security Council has not yet agreed on a follow-up plan.

The UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) ended on 31 October after a failed attempt to renew its mandate. Russia vetoed a U.S. proposal to reshape the mission around autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, while a Russian alternative failed to secure enough votes.

Lacroix noted that the mission is now in its liquidation phase, with the UN urging restraint and a political solution for Western Sahara’s self-determination. Meanwhile, new threats to peacekeepers emerged, including civilian complaints about detentions and property seizures in Syria and the Golan Heights, as well as drone attacks in Abyei.