Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced Thursday that Turkey wants to take part in a new security force that would operate in southern Lebanon after the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) ends its mission.

Speaking alongside Lebanese President Joseph Aoun during a joint press conference in Ankara, Erdoğan called the planned end of UNIFIL’s mandate “an important development” and said Turkey wants to help ensure Lebanon’s sovereignty and support regional security. His remarks indicate Ankara is seeking to deploy Turkish troops along the Israel-Lebanon border as part of the proposed replacement force.

UNIFIL’s mandate is expected to expire in 2027 after the U.N. Security Council approved a gradual withdrawal of the peacekeeping mission, with security responsibilities slated to be transferred to the Lebanese government.

UNIFIL was established in 1978 following Israel’s Operation Litani, and its role was expanded after the 2006 Second Lebanon War under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701. Over the years, the force has faced repeated criticism for failing to prevent Hezbollah from expanding its military infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said he hopes his visit to Ankara marks “a new phase” in relations between Lebanon and Turkey based on partnership and mutual trust. Erdoğan’s proposal comes as Turkey continues to strengthen its military, the second largest in NATO, amid growing indications that Ankara is seeking to expand its influence across the region.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)