UNITED NATIONS, United States — The Security Council voted Thursday for UN peacekeepers to leave Lebanon in 2027, after agreeing to a final extension of the force whose withdrawal has been sought by Israel and the United States.

 

With the United States dangling a veto threat, the Security Council voted unanimously for a resolution that will extend the mandate "a final time" of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

 

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed a United Nations Security Council decision on Thursday to extend the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

 

"I welcome the Security Council's decision to extend the UNIFIL mandate until December 31, 2026," Salam said, thanking France and "all friendly states in this council". The decision provides for the blue helmets to withdraw from Lebanon by the end of 2027.