Bangladesh, Oct. 28 -- For nearly five decades, United Nations peacekeepers have monitored one of the Middle Easts most volatile frontiers. Their presence in southern Lebanon has helped maintain communication, observe security developments and support efforts to prevent renewed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Now, as the United Nations prepares to end the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate on December 31, 2026, the region faces a critical question: Who will maintain security after the peacekeepers leave?

The planned withdrawal, followed by a gradual departure during 2027, comes at a sensitive moment for Lebanon. The country is struggling with economic hardship, political divisions and the consequences of repeated conflic...