China Calls for Reversal of Peacekeeping Force Withdrawal from Lebanon
Al Jazeera Staff
China’s UN ambassador urged the Security Council to reconsider its plan to end the long-standing UNIFIL mission in Lebanon by 2026 as violence between Israel and Hezbollah escalates and peacekeeper casualties increase. Fu Cong argued that a real ceasefire does not exist in Lebanon, only “a smaller fire,” and called on Israel to stop its bombardment.
China’s UN ambassador, Fu Cong, said on May 2 that he was deeply concerned about the situation in Lebanon and called on the Security Council to reconsider its decision to wind down the long-standing peacekeeping mission there, which is scheduled to end by late 2026.
Speaking at UN headquarters in New York, Fu — who assumed the rotating presidency of the Security Council for May — argued that a real ceasefire does not exist in Lebanon, only “a smaller fire.” He stressed: “We believe the decision to withdraw UNIFIL should be reconsidered. At least, the overwhelming majority view among Security Council members is that this is not the time to pull forces out of the area.”
China is awaiting a report from the UN Secretariat, expected in June, before taking an official position. Fu also called on Israel to stop its bombardment of Lebanon.
UNIFIL was created after Israel’s 1978 invasion to monitor Israel’s withdrawal. After the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, its mandate was expanded to include maintaining a demilitarized buffer zone between the two sides. However, in August 2025, the Security Council unanimously agreed to begin a phased withdrawal of UNIFIL’s 10,800 troops, a process expected to be completed by December 2026.
Rising Casualties
According to Lebanese officials, Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed 2,618 people and forced more than one million to flee their homes. UNIFIL has also suffered heavy losses. UN officials confirmed at least six peacekeepers have been killed and many injured since Israel launched its campaign on March 2. Victims included soldiers from Indonesia and France, struck by artillery fire and roadside ambushes.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the incidents, stressing that UN “blue helmets” have been attacked while carrying out duties such as mine clearance and escorting aid convoys.
