Southern Border

Where things stand

On Sunday, 18 October 2026, Beirut saw a round of French diplomacy as Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and junior armed forces minister Alice Rufo met Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Defence Minister Michel Moussa, with talks focused on the fate of UNIFIL before its mission ends at the end of this year and on the need to avoid a security vacuum in the south. Lebanese officials stressed their commitment to Resolution 1701 and to a continued international monitoring presence, while reports spoke of a pessimistic reading given no change in the firm US position against an extension. In parallel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will not withdraw from the "security belt" inside Lebanon as long as Hezbollah keeps its weapons, amid continued demolition operations and artillery shelling in Khiam, Mansouri and Wadi al-Salouqi, and the abduction of two residents in Kfarshouba during the olive harvest. According to reports, Lebanon is heading to a new negotiating round in Tampa, in the United States, 48 hours before an expected tripartite meeting, with disagreement persisting over Israel's linking any progress to arrangements concerning Hezbollah's weapons.

• During their meetings with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and minister Alice Rufo, Berri and Salam stressed Lebanon's commitment to keeping UNIFIL and to Resolution 1701, warning of a security vacuum once the international force's mission ends.
• In an interview with Israeli Radio North, Netanyahu said Israel will not withdraw from the "security belt" in Lebanon as long as Hezbollah keeps its weapons, and that military operations will continue when needed, without setting a withdrawal timetable.
• The Israeli army blew up the Mabarrat school in Khiam at midnight and shelled Mansouri and Wadi al-Salouqi, while the National News Agency reported a large explosion heard in Qantara in Marjeyoun district, with no details on its cause or casualties.
• An Israeli force entered the Khallet Zuhair area of Kfarshouba and abducted two residents while they were picking olives; meanwhile the Kfarshouba municipality and mukhtars rejected the proposed olive-picking formula, and reports of an evacuation request in Khallet Omar in Zabqin were denied.
• UNIFIL's mandate ends at the end of 2026 under a Security Council resolution adopted in August 2025; the force has about 7,500 personnel from some 50 countries, Lebanon is demanding an extension, and reports speak of a new negotiating meeting in Tampa with a Lebanese military delegation 48 hours before an expected tripartite meeting.