BEIRUT (AP) — A United Nations delegation visting Lebanon said Saturday they came to Beirut to explore options for territory along the border with Israel after a U.N. peacekeeping force's term ends at the end of next year.
The comments by the team representing the 15 members of the U.N. Security Council came a day after Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told them that his country will need a follow-up force in southern Lebanon to fill the vacuum once the U.N. peacekeepers’ term expires.
The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously in August to terminate the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, at the end of 2026 — nearly five decades after the force was deployed. The multinational force has played a significant role in monitoring the security situation in the region, including during the Israel-Hezbollah war last year.
One of UNIFIL’s main missions has been the implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701 that ended the 34-day Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006. The same resolution was used again to end the latest 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war that ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November last year.
“We wanted to use (the) opportunity of this visit to also examine options for implementation of resolution 1701 following UNIFIL’s departure from Lebanon,” said Samuel Žbogar, permanent representative of Slovenia to the U.N. and president of the Security Council.
“We are looking forward to the secretary general recommendations on this one as well,” Žbogar said in a brief statement. “As you can imagine, this is a topic that will deserve a thorough conversation during 2026.”
The delegation met during its visit to Lebanon with top officials in the country as well as the army commander. On Saturday, the team went to south Lebanon where they visited the border area with Israel.
The latest Israel-Hezbollah war began a day after Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, with Hezbollah firing rockets into Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian Hamas militants. Israel’s response, which included bombardment and a ground operation, last year severely weakened Hezbollah.
Samuel Zbogar, Slovenia's permanent representative to the United Nations and president of the Security Council, delivers a statement with his delegation in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Samuel Zbogar, third left, Slovenia's permanent representative to the United Nations and president of the Security Council, delivers a statement with his delegation in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
The Premier League title race was blown open after Arsenal conceded in stoppage time and lost at Aston Villa 2-1 on Sarturday.
Emiliano Buendia struck at the death and stunned first-placed Arsenal.
That allowed second-placed Manchester City to close the gap at the top to two points after beating Sunderland 3-0.
Villa was a point further back in third.
Chelsea could not take advantage, dropping points for the third game in a row in a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth.
Buendia's winner came in the fifth minute of added time at Villa Park where the substitute lifted a shot through a crowded box and into the roof of the net.
“In the manner that happened at the end, obviously, (it is) really difficult to take,” Arteta told TNT Sports.
It was the third successive time that Arsenal has dropped points away from home after draws with Sunderland and Chelsea. Those results have opened the door to rivals such as City and Villa.
Villa's ninth win from its last 10 games followed a dire start to the campaign when Unai Emery's team was winless after five games.
“At the minute we’re on a great run,” said Matty Cash, who put Villa ahead in the 36th. “We know it’s not even Christmas yet so we have to keep being demanding, keep being consistent, and then we’ll see where it takes us.”
Leandro Trossard was a halftime substitute for Arsenal and he made a quick impact by leveling the game seven minutes later.
Buendia went on in the 87th and proved an inspired substitution, lifting a shot past Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
“We fight until the last minute, the last second, it was a really incredible win,” Buendia said.
Arsenal's second loss of the season was its first since August at Liverpool.
“We are 18 games unbeaten, and yet still the margin is so small,” Arteta said. “The effort was absolutely there and (we must) use that pain to go again."
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Manchester City's Phil Foden, second left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Sunderland in Manchester, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola applauds fans after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Sunderland in Manchester, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Aston Villa players celebrate after Aston Villa's Emiliano Buendia scored his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Arsenal in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Aston Villa's Emiliano Buendia, right, celebrates with Aston Villa's Donyell Malen after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Arsenal in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Arsenal's Declan Rice reacts after the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Arsenal in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Arsenal's Declan Rice reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Arsenal in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Arsenal's Leandro Trossard, left, makes an attempt to score during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Arsenal in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta follows the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Arsenal in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Aston Villa's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, left, makes a save ahead of Arsenal's Bukayo Saka during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Arsenal in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
