Continuation of the Bundeswehr mission off the Lebanese coast (UNIFIL)

The Bundestag has voted on a motion from the federal government aimed at continuing the participation of armed German forces in the “United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon” (UNIFIL). The mandate was last extended by one year in June 2024 by a roll-call vote. With the new resolution, it should continue until the end of June 2026. According to the federal government, the operational additional expenditure should be around 61.6 million euros. As before, up to 300 soldiers from the Bundeswehr are to be sent to the operational area, particularly to take on sea-based tasks, such as the surveillance of sea and air space. According to the Federal Government, the aim of the operation is to continue to provide support in securing the Lebanese borders and entry points in order to prevent the flow of arms and other military material into Lebanon without the consent of the Lebanese government. There was a recommendation for a resolution from the Foreign Affairs Committee for the Federal Government's proposal, in which acceptance was recommended and which was voted on by roll call. The Budget Committee also submitted a report stating that the application was compatible with the federal budget situation. The recommendation for a resolution and thus the federal government's proposal were accepted with 390 yes votes. 179 MPs voted against, there were two abstentions from Simone Fischer and Corinna Rüffer (both ALLIANCE 90/THE GREENS).