Military installations in southern Lebanon have been strengthened by Israel, according to UN peacekeeping force Unifil.

Unifil, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, is preparing for a phased withdrawal from south Lebanon, scheduled to conclude by the end of 2026. This decision, however, comes amidst ongoing tensions and violations of the November 2024 ceasefire agreement.

The withdrawal process will be coordinated with the Lebanese government to ensure a smooth transition and avoid leaving a security vacuum. However, the Lebanese army, while expanding its presence in south Lebanon, is chronically underfunded and under-equipped, lacking long-range missiles, air defence systems, and a capable air force.

The US is pushing for its own road map to be implemented in Lebanon, aiming for Hezbollah's full disarmament nationwide. Yet, Hezbollah has rejected the US-proposed plan, despite the Lebanese government's endorsement. This rejection and the lack of a guarantee of Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory pose significant challenges to the peacekeeping efforts.

Israel continues to hold two buffer zones in south Lebanon, fortifying five military positions within its borders. These fortified positions are equipped with wide earth berms, additional troops, new bunkers, and heavier equipment such as tanks. Israel's army operates freely within these zones, but no fixed military installations are present.

Despite the ceasefire agreement, Israel continues to launch attacks into Lebanese territory daily, a violation of UN Resolution 1701. The Lebanese civilians and military personnel are barred from entering the buffer zones. Unifil has recorded more than 5,000 air violations, more than 100 raids or drone strikes, and uncovered over 320 weapons caches or abandoned weaponry since the ceasefire came into force.

Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has expressed dissatisfaction with the continuation of Israel's military presence in southern Lebanon, yet he has also stated that the military presence will remain "indefinitely". The US has provided little guarantee of Israeli withdrawal, adding to the complexity of the situation.

The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has been spreading throughout south Lebanon since November 2024, with Unifil helping to facilitate this. However, the question remains whether the LAF will be able to maintain peace and security in the region once Unifil withdraws. The ongoing tensions and violations of the ceasefire agreement suggest that this will be a challenging task.

Military installations in southern Lebanon have been strengthened by Israel, according to UN peacekeeping force Unifil.