Germany has renewed its call for a European Union-led mission to take over from United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, warning that a withdrawal without a replacement could trigger a dangerous power vacuum. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul outlined Berlin's proposal as the 48-year-old UNIFIL mission faces an end-of-year deadline to leave the region. Main Developments Wadephul told RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland on Friday that an EU force is necessary to prevent a “security vacuum” in southern Lebanon after UNIFIL's mandate expires at the end of the year. The German foreign minister argued the new mission would allow Israel's army to withdraw from occupied areas while ensuring Hezbollah does not “return with its terror.” Israeli forces currently hold several positions inside southern Lebanon, where they continue strikes and operations targeting the Iran-backed group despite an existing ceasefire. Hezbollah has simultaneously maintained cross-border attacks into northern Israel, keeping the region in a state of low-level conflict. Read also: 3 key targets hit in US strikes on southern Iran Pressure from the United States pushed the UN Security Council last year to agree to end UNIFIL's mission, which has been deployed since 1978. Wadephul said the EU should examine whether a European mandate can fill the gap left by the departing peacekeepers. Background UNIFIL was first deployed after Israel's initial invasion of Lebanon in 1978, tasked with confirming the withdrawal of Israeli forces and assisting the Lebanese government in restoring authority. The mission has faced persistent criticism from all sides over its effectiveness, particularly its failure to prevent Israel's deep incursion into Lebanese territory during the war against Hezbollah. In May, Israeli forces advanced further into Lebanese territory than at any point since they ended a nearly two-decade occupation of the country's south in 2000. That escalation intensified debate over what mechanism should replace UNIFIL to prevent future conflict and provide relief to civilians caught in the fighting. Debate within the EU about a potential mission to Lebanon has been under way for some time. Lebanon has expressed support for such an operation, but officials in Brussels and military sources have indicated it would differ significantly from UNIFIL's boots-on-the-ground peacekeeping model, focusing instead on training and support for Lebanon's own military. Why It Matters A security vacuum in southern Lebanon risks reigniting full-scale hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, potentially destabilizing the entire eastern Mediterranean. The EU force proposal represents Europe's attempt to shape the post-UNIFIL security architecture without committing to a large-scale ground presence that could draw it into direct confrontation with armed groups. The outcome will also test the US-brokered process that both Lebanon and Israel are pursuing to end the war. If no credible replacement emerges, the region could face a prolonged period of uncertainty with neither UN peacekeepers nor a capable Lebanese army able to control the border area. What's Next Lebanon and Israel recently completed a sixth round of talks in Rome, focused on establishing “pilot zones” in southern Lebanon where Israeli forces would begin withdrawing in exchange for Hezbollah's disarmament. The EU must decide whether to formally take up Germany's proposal and design a mission that balances European political will with the military realities on the ground. UNIFIL's mandate expires at the end of the year, leaving a narrow window for Brussels to craft a credible alternative. Any EU mission would likely require unanimous member-state approval and a clear mandate from the Lebanese government, both of which remain open questions.