Germany's proposed EU force for Lebanon would lack UN cover, risking direct friction with Hezbollah and Iran

Germany's foreign minister has proposed an EU stabilization mission to replace UNIFIL in southern Lebanon when its mandate expires at end-2026. Unlike UNIFIL, an EU force would operate without a Security Council mandate, removing multilateral cover and potentially drawing European troops into direct friction with Hezbollah and Iran. Whether EU member states accept that exposure remains the open question.