Berlin extends navy mission off Lebanon as UN mandate runs out

The German government on Wednesday backed a final extension of a navy mission off the Lebanese coast that is part of UN peacekeeping efforts which are set to expire at the end of the year.

Under the plans, more than 200 German troops currently deployed in the Mediterranean aboard the frigate North Rhine-Westphalia are to leave the region by June 30, 2027, putting an end to one of the longest maritime mission in Bundeswehr history after some 20 years.

The UN Security Council voted in August last year to extend the UN mission in Lebanon for a final time until December 31, 2026.

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers, often known as "blue helmets" for their distinctive headgear, have monitored the border area between Israel and Lebanon since 1978.

The current mission includes some 10,000 troops from nearly 50 countries, according to the UN. Following their withdrawal, the Lebanese army is set to take over control, though Beirut has expressed the desire for UN peacekeepers to maintain a presence in the country after their current mandate runs out, UN officials said last month.

The German military is set to complete its withdrawal by early 2027, including of some 30 troops stationed at the UNIFIL headquarters in southern Lebanon, according to the Defence Ministry.

The final extension of the German mission still needs to be approved by the lower house, though this is considered a formality.

The main aim of the German navy operation is to intercept weapons deliveries intended for the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia, alongside supporting training for the regular Lebanese armed forces.