Beirut insists on the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the south of the country after its mission expires on December 31, 2026, The Financial Times reported, citing sources.

The newspaper cited Lebanon’s letter to the United Nations Security Council asking to extend the UNIFIL mission for an indefinite period of time as it thinks that its completion late this year would be premature. France and most of other Security Council members have supported Lebanon’s request, the sources told the newspaper.