|| Special Correspondent: Lebanese officials are intensifying diplomatic efforts to preserve an international security presence in southern Lebanon as the UN Interim Force in Lebanon moves toward the end of its mandate.The future of UNIFIL and security arrangements in southern Lebanon featured prominently in Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s meetings in Rome.Lebanon is seeking to maintain UNIFIL’s presence until stability is restored, viewing the peacekeeping force as an “international umbrella supporting the Lebanese Army in implementing Resolution 1701.”If an extension of the mission cannot be secured, Lebanese officials are exploring the possibility of deploying forces from countries that have expressed a willingness to maintain a presence in Lebanon, including Italy, France and Spain.Such deployments could operate either under direct agreements between Lebanon and the participating states, or through the UN.The Lebanese presidency’s media office said Aoun, who met his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella, also held talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday night.The discussions covered “the period following the end of UNIFIL’s mission, the support provided by Italy to Lebanon, and the situation in the south in light of continuing Israeli attacks.”They also addressed “the need to pressure Israel to abide by the framework agreement reached during Lebanese-Israeli negotiations under US sponsorship in Washington, and Italy’s role in consolidating security and stability in the south.”Aoun had earlier discussed southern Lebanon and UNIFIL with Vatican officials. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is also expected to raise the issue in New York City on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September.UNIFIL, meanwhile, vacated an observation post near the Khardali Bridge two days ago.The bridge crosses the Litani River and links the Nabatieh and Marjayoun districts, between the towns of Kfar Tebnit and Deir Mimas.A Lebanese Army Command source told Arab News: “The evacuation took place as part of UNIFIL’s gradual withdrawal from Lebanon. There is a Lebanese Army checkpoint operating at the same location.”In August 2025, the UN Security Council unanimously approved a final extension of UNIFIL’s mandate until Dec. 31, 2026, followed by a coordinated and safe drawdown and withdrawal beginning on that date and continuing for one year, until the end of 2027.Last December, UNIFIL began implementing a plan to reduce its troop strength by 25 percent following cuts to the mission’s budget.Before the Security Council decision was adopted, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said Washington was seeking to reduce the size of UNIFIL so that Hezbollah could not “use it as cover for its operations.”Retired Lebanese Army Maj. Gen. Abdul Rahman Shehaitli, who previously represented Lebanon in indirect negotiations with Israel over border demarcation and the occupation of the village of Ghajar, told Arab News that UNIFIL’s withdrawal would leave Lebanon politically exposed.“The more than 40 countries contributing troops to UNIFIL have exerted pressure to maintain stability in southern Lebanon because they have units deployed on the ground that they need to protect,” he said.“If these forces withdraw, those countries will no longer have the same level of interest in exerting pressure in that direction.”Shehaitli said UNIFIL’s presence also helped prevent direct friction between the Lebanese and Israeli armies.The force had additionally played an important role in supporting villages in southern Lebanon economically, socially, medically, educationally and through humanitarian assistance, he said.Shehaitli said Aoun was seeking international backing for any force that might eventually replace UNIFIL.“The president is seeking international cover for any force that could be formed as an alternative to UNIFIL, with the mission of a task force and a role broader than that currently played by UNIFIL,” he said.Asked which European countries could take part in such a force, particularly France, Shehaitli said he believed “the American side wants to remove French influence from Lebanon and Syria, and replace it with American influence.”Earlier this week, Aoun told a parliamentary delegation that presented him with a petition signed by 86 MPs calling on the UN to extend UNIFIL’s mandate that “keeping UNIFIL remains the best option for Lebanon.”The parliamentary delegation also handed a copy of the petition to a visiting delegation from the American Task Force on Lebanon.UNIFIL’s responsibilities include monitoring the situation on the ground and recording violations, supporting efforts to maintain the cessation of hostilities, assisting the Lebanese Army in deploying and establishing authority south of the Litani River, overseeing tripartite meetings in Naqoura aimed at preventing escalation, and providing logistical and technical support to local communities.However, UNIFIL’s credibility has come under increasing scrutiny after Israeli forces operating inside the peacekeepers’ area of operations uncovered what Israel says are extensive Hezbollah military facilities built over two decades, including drone launch sites, observation towers, complex tunnel networks and large weapons stockpiles.Israel’s case to Washington has gone beyond accusations that UNIFIL merely observed Hezbollah’s activities without taking action.According to Israel, UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army effectively served as a “front for Hezbollah,” with Israel alleging that they not only overlooked the group’s activities, but also allowed it to operate, construct tunnels and store weapons within their areas of operation.Under the framework agreement, UNIFIL would have no role in the designated pilot areas.Instead, the Lebanese Army would assume responsibility for security in southern Lebanon, while countries agreed upon during the Rome negotiations would take part in a mechanism to monitor the pilot areas and the army’s operations there.Those operations are aimed at disarming Hezbollah, dismantling its military infrastructure and ensuring Israel’s withdrawal from the areas concerned.