Finnish peacekeepers are preparing to leave Lebanon as the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) approaches the end of its more than 40-year presence in the country. Around 17,000 Finns have served in the international peacekeeping operation since it began.
Approximately 180 Finnish personnel are currently serving with UNIFIL in southern Lebanon. Most are stationed at a military camp known as UNP9-1, where their duties include operational assignments and patrols in the surrounding area.
The Finnish contingent forms part of a French-led unit of approximately 800 troops based at the camp. While most of the French personnel are professional soldiers, the majority of the Finnish peacekeepers are reservists.
The departure follows a decision by the United Nations Security Council not to extend UNIFIL’s mandate beyond the end of 2026. The international operation, which currently has more than 7,500 peacekeepers, is scheduled to be dismantled during 2027.
The decision brings an end to a long-running international military presence in southern Lebanon, although questions remain about the mission’s overall contribution to security in the region.
Assessments of UNIFIL’s performance differ considerably, depending on the country and the expectations placed on the operation.
Olli Ruohomäki of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) says there is no straightforward answer to whether the mission has achieved its objectives.
“The answer depends on who you ask,” he said.
Israel has been among the strongest critics of UNIFIL, regarding the operation as a failure because it did not prevent Hezbollah from building up its weapons and military capabilities. However, Ruohomäki pointed out that preventing Hezbollah from acquiring weapons was never part of the mission’s official mandate.
Lebanese officials have taken a more favourable view, highlighting the peacekeepers’ support for the Lebanese armed forces and their contribution to maintaining stability in a particularly challenging security environment.
International assessments of the mission’s effectiveness generally fall between these contrasting positions, according to Ruohomäki.
The decision to end UNIFIL’s mandate followed pressure from Israel and the United States, both of which supported winding down the operation. The UN secretary-general had proposed establishing a smaller mission to take over some of its responsibilities, but the proposal is not expected to proceed because of opposition from the United States.
The European Union is also preparing a separate mission in Lebanon. However, it will not serve as a replacement for UNIFIL. Its responsibilities will instead focus on supporting the Lebanese armed forces and the country’s border authorities.
For Finland, the withdrawal marks the end of a significant chapter in its international peacekeeping involvement. With around 17,000 Finnish personnel having served in Lebanon over more than four decades, the mission has represented a longstanding contribution to international security efforts in the Middle East.
