The future of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon has split the United States and its European allies with implications for security in the Middle East. The divide is the latest issue to vex relations between the U.S. and several of its key partners as the Trump administration moves drastically to pare down its foreign affairs priorities and budget. At issue is the operation known as UNIFIL, whose mandate expires at the end of August and needs to be renewed by the U.N. Security Council to continue. The multinational force has played a significant role in monitoring the security situation in southern Lebanon for decades, including during the war last year, but also has drawn widespread criticism.
