More than 1,800 UN peacekeepers have left southern Lebanon since early November 2025, with over 300 more set to exit by May 2026, a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) official said on Thursday, reported Xinhua. The drawdown stems from UN-wide budget reductions, not an early mission closure, UNIFIL spokesperson Candice Ardell told Xinhua in an exclusive interview, citing UN Security Council Resolution 2790, adopted in late August, which extended UNIFIL's mandate until Dec. 31, 2026, and authorized its gradual withdrawal thereafter. UNIFIL has around 10,500 peacekeepers coming from around 50 troop-contributing countries. Ardell said the Lebanese army destroyed 370 illicit weapons caches and related infrastructure south of the Litani River over the past year, intensifying its deployment in the area with UNIFIL's support. She identified continued Israeli military activity inside Lebanon as the main obstacle to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and achieving lasting stability. While Lebanon and Israel reaffirmed their commitment to Resolution 1701 through a Nov. 2024 understanding -- which Ardell described as a framework for a lasting solution -- she warned that ongoing Israeli ground and air operations inside Lebanon continue to jeopardize the stability process. Strengthening the Lebanese army remains the "cornerstone" for restoring stability and enabling the displaced to return, Ardell said, adding that the army requires additional support and training to secure the south. She also cautioned that hostile rhetoric further escalates tensions. Ardell called on all parties to move beyond statements and fully implement Resolution 1701, urging the Israeli army to end its presence in Lebanon.