United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon

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The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, was created by the United Nations, with the adoption of Security Council Resolution 425 and 426 on March 19, 1978, to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore international peace and security, and help the Government of Lebanon restore its effective authority in the area.^[1] The first UNIFIL troops arrived in the area on March 23, 1978; these troops were reassigned from other UN peacekeeping operations in the area (namely the United Nations Emergency Force and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Zone).^[1]

During the 1982 Lebanon War, UN positions were overrun, primarily by the de facto forces under Saad Haddad. These were the indigenous Lebanese forces supported by the IDF.^[2] During the occupation, UNIFIL's function was mainly to provide humanitarian aid.^[2] Beginning in 1985, Israel scaled back its permanent positions in Lebanon, although this process was punctuated by brief invasions and bombings, as in Operation Accountability in 1993 and Operation Grapes of Wrath in 1996. In 1999, Israel undertook a full withdrawal, which concluded in 2000 and enabled UNIFIL to resume its military tasks. The Lebanese government claims that the Shebaa farms area is Lebanese territory, although the UN considers it to be outside Lebanon's border. They contend that this dispute gives continued legal sanction to armed anti-Israeli groups in Lebanon (though the UN has officially certified that Israel has fully withdrawn from all areas it occupied after 1973). The UN Security Council has extended UNIFIL's mandate until August 31, 2007.^[3]

Contents 1 Mandate 2 Current operation 2.1 Troop status 2.2 Debate over UNIFIL presence and neutrality 2.3 Conflict in 2006 2.3.1 Casualties from Israeli fire 2.3.2 Casualties from Hezbollah fire 2.3.3 Reinforcements 2.3.4 Incidents involving Israeli planes 3 Countries involved 4 Personal representatives of the Secretary-General for Southern Lebanon 5 Commanders of the force 6 Quotes 7 Notes 8 See also 9 Sources 10 External links

[edit] Mandate

UNIFIL is tasked with achieving the following objectives:

• Confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon
• Restore international peace and security
• Assist the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area

Mandating resolutions by the United Nations:

• January 31, 2006: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1655^[4]
• July 31, 2006: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1697^[5]
• August 11, 2006: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701^[6]

[edit] Current operation

UNIFIL is currently primarily deployed along the United Nations-drawn Blue Line dividing Israel (and the disputed Golan Heights) and southern Lebanon. Its activities have centred around monitoring military activity between Hezbollah and the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) with the aim of reducing tensions and allaying continuing low-level armed conflict. UNIFIL has also played an important rôle in clearing landmines, assisting displaced persons, and providing humanitarian assistance in this underdeveloped region. It is to be reinforced with up to 15,000 personnel and a tougher UN mandate under a UN resolution to halt the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, and operate alongside the Lebanese Armed Forces. The new resolution states that UNIFIL can “take all the necessary action in areas of deployment of its forces, and as it deems with its capabilities, to ensure that its area of operations is not utilised for hostile activities of any kind.”^[7] On August 27, 2006 United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that UNIFIL would not intercept arms shipments from Syria, unless requested to do so by the Government of Lebanon.

[edit] Troop status

As of November 1, 2006 UNIFIL employs 9,509 military personnel, 53 United Nations Truce Supervision Organization observers, 97 international civilian employees, and 308 local civilian employees.^[8] Its annual budget is about US$100 million. UNIFIL is currently led by Italian Major-General Claudio Graziano.

To date UNIFIL has suffered 258 fatalities: 249 military personnel, 2 military observers, 3 international civilian staff, and 4 local staff.

[edit] Debate over UNIFIL presence and neutrality

UNIFIL has fallen out of favour with both Israel and Hezbollah. Israel has criticized the force for, among other things, maintaining a dialogue with Hezbollah, which it views as a terrorist organisation, for treating Israeli and Hezbollah ceasefire breaches equally, while Israel views its overflights as less severe than Hezbollah shellings. UNIFIL was accused of complicity in the fatal abduction of IDF soldiers in October 2000, and Israel further blamed it for obstructing its investigation by denying the existence of and then refusing to supply videos for several months afterwards.^[9][10]

Prior to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict of July 2006, Israel had been lobbying for UNIFIL to either take a more active role vis-a-vis Hezbollah (for example, preventing Hezbollah from stationing near UNIFIL posts to fire at the IDF and into northern Israel) or to step out of the region (thereby voiding the Lebanese government’s excuse for not deploying Lebanese Armed Forces along the border).^[11]

UNIFIL also came under criticism during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict for broadcasting detailed reports of Israeli troop movements on their website which "could have exposed Israeli soldiers to grave danger", while making no such reports about Hezbollah.^[12]

Hezbollah supporters have accused UNIFIL of siding with Israel, especially since the passage of Resolution 1701 which they view as one-sided. On October 16, 2006 Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah declared that the UN force had “come to protect Israel, not Lebanon”.

The participation of Turkish troops in the reinforced UNIFIL in 2006 has also been controversial in Lebanon, where the Armenian community has vigorously protested against it.

[edit] Conflict in 2006

See also: Attacks on United Nations personnel during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

According to UNIFIL press releases, there have been dozens of such incidents of UN posts coming under fire during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.^[13] In his 21 July 2006 report about the UNIFIL activities 21 January-18 July 2006, the UN Secretary-General stated that "Some Hezbollah positions remained in close proximity to United Nations positions, especially in the Hula area, posing a significant security risk to United Nations personnel and equipment."^[14]

[edit] Casualties from Israeli fire

• An Israeli tank shell hit a UNIFIL position in southern Lebanon on Monday 24 July 2006, wounding four Ghanaian soldiers. UNIFIL engineers from China repaired a road connecting Tyre and Naqoura previously destroyed by the Israelis.^[15]
• Shrapnel from tank shells fired by the IDF seriously wounded an Indian soldier on 16 July 2006^[16]
• On 25 July 2006 four UN peacekeepers from Austria, Canada, China and Finland were killed when an Israeli aerial bomb struck a UN observation post in southern Lebanon. According to the UN, the four had taken shelter in a bunker under the post. The area around the site was shelled a total of 14 times by Israeli artillery^[17] throughout the day despite communication^[18] via telephone between the UN liaison and the IDF. Later, a rescue team was also shelled^[19] as it tried to clear the rubble.

[edit] Casualties from Hezbollah fire

• Hezbollah fire wounded an Italian OGL observer on the border on Sunday 23 July.^[20]
• Hezbollah opened small-arms fire on a UNIFIL convoy on the road between Kunin and Bint Jbail causing damage to the APCs but no casualties.^[21]

[edit] Reinforcements

Following the cease-fire, the UNIFIL will receive vast reinforcement, up to 15 000 men, and heavy equipment. France is committed to increase her complement from 400 to 2 000 men and send Leclerc heavy tanks and AMX 30 AuF1 self-propelled artillery [6], in addition to the forces deployed in Opération Baliste. Italy will send 3000 troops.[7] Qatar will send between 200 and 300 troops. [8]

A naval component of UNIFIL is being set up to assist the Lebanese Navy preventing arms proliferation to Hezbollah. This force is under the command of a German admiral with the majority of vessels being provided by the German Navy.

[edit] Incidents involving Israeli planes

On the 3 October 2006, an Israeli fighter penetrated the 2-nautical mile defence perimeter of the French frigate Courbet, triggering a diplomatic incident. Israel apologised after official protests from the French government [9] [10].

On 24 October, six Israeli F-16's flew over a German vessel patrolling off Israel's coast just south of the Lebanese border. The German Defence Ministry said that the planes had given off infrared decoys and one of the aircraft had fired two shots into the air, which had not been specifically aimed. The Israeli military said that a German helicopter took off from the vessel without having coordinated this with Israel, and denied vehemently having fired any shots at the vessel and said "as of now" it also had no knowledge of the jets launching flares over it. Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz telephoned his German counterpart Franz Josef Jung to clarify that 'Israel has no intention to carry out any aggressive actions' against the German peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, who are there as part of UNIFIL to enforce an arms embargo against Hezbollah. Germany confirmed the consultations, and that both sides were interested in maintaining good cooperation.^[22][23][24]

On 31 October 2006, eight Israeli F-15s flew over many areas of Lebanon, including Beirut.^[25][26] The IAF jets also flew over a French peacekeeper position in Lebanon. According to the French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, the planes came in at what was interpreted as an attack position, and the peacekeepers were "seconds away" from firing at the jets.^[27]

[edit] Countries involved

The following countries have either committed troops, are currently active in UNIFIL, or have offered support to UNIFIL in some way. Countries in bold were part of the original UNIFIL force.

Country	Committed Forces (estimated*)	Support Roles
Belgium	394[28][29]	de-miners, medical and reconstruction teams[29]
Brunei	100[30][31]
Bulgaria	160[32]
China, People’s Republic of	1,000[33][34]	200 engineers currently in Lebanon clearing mines and unexploded ordnance[35]
Denmark	50[28][36]	2 patrol boats as force protection for German contingent
Finland	250[28][37]	reconstructing roads, bridges and other infrastructure destroyed[38]
France	2,000[39][40]	ground troops including 13 French Leclerc tanks;[41] in charge of UNIFIL ground forces until February 2007.[42] In addition, French Navy ships with 1,700 men are deployed off Lebanon in Opération Baliste, and assisting in UNIFIL operations.
Germany	2,400[43][44]	naval ships to secure the Lebanese coast and prevent arms smuggling[43][44]
Ghana
Greece	176-196	Elli-class frigate, the HS Kanaris, to patrol against arms smugglers[45]
India	672[46][47]
Indonesia	1,000[48][49]	combat units, an engineering unit and logistics specialists[48]
Ireland	150[38][50]	perimeter protection for Finnish troops[38]
Italy	2,500[51]	ground troops; assumed charge of UNIFIL ground forces in February 2007[52]
Malaysia	360[53][54]	Administrative(200) and patrol/quick reaction team (160; including commandos and special forces);
Nepal	850[55][56]	infantry battalion[55][56]
Netherlands	150[57]	M-class frigate[57]
Norway	100[57][58]	naval ships to secure the Lebanese coast and prevent arms smuggling[57]
Poland	500[59][28]
Portugal	140[60]
Russia	400[44][61]	rebuilding infrastructure[44]
Spain	1,000[39][62]	de-mining and beach cleaning[63]
Sweden	40[28][64]	1 Göteborg class corvette
Turkey	495[65]	engineering unit to help rebuild damaged bridges and roads; Turkish naval frigate patrolling off the Lebanese coast[65]
Ukraine	1[47]
Total	13,817

* Because the troop figures come from second hand sources, the exact numbers can not be accurately verified. In most cases the sources round and/or estimate the figures to the closet proximity.

[edit] Personal representatives of the Secretary-General for Southern Lebanon

• March 1978 with ? : Jean Cuq, (France).
• 2000 with January 15, 2001 : Rolf Goran Knutsson, (Sweden).
• January 15, 2001 with April 2005 : Staffan de Mistura, (Sweden).
• April 2005 - : Geir Perdersen (Norway).

[edit] Commanders of the force

• March 1978 with February 1981 : Emmanuel A. Erskine, (Ghana).
• February 1981 with May 1986 : William Callaghan, (Ireland).
• June 1986 with June 1988 : Gustav Hägglund, (Finland).
• July 1988 with February 1993 : Lars-Eric Wahlgren, (Sweden).
• February 1993 with February 1995: Trond Furuhovde, (Norway).
• April 1995 with October 1, 1997: Stanislaw Franciszek Wozniak, (Poland).
• February 1997 with September 1999 : Jioje Konousi Koronte, (Fiji).
• September 30 with December 1, 1999 : James Sreenan, (Ireland).
• November 16, 1999 with May 15, 2001 : Seth Kofi Obeng, (Ghana).
• May 15 with August 17, 2001 : Ganesan Athmanathan, (India).
• August 17, 2001 with February 17, 2004 : Lalit Mohan Tewari, (India).
• February 17, 2004 with February 2, 2007 : Alain Pellegrini, (France).
• February 2, 2007 - : Claudio Graziano, (Italy).

[edit] Quotes

• "UNIFIL, I'm afraid, is a joke. They’ve been there for 26 years and since then, there have been so many skirmishes [along the border]." - former Israeli ambassador Itamar Rabinovich 20 July 2006^[66]

• "We didn’t like very much UNIFIL which was very useless and very helpless. Look what happened. Did you hear of any particular efforts of the United Nations UNIFIL force in the south of Lebanon to prevent the attacks against Israel in the first place. So they were not useful and that is why we were unhappy with them." Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, August 2, 2006^[67]

• " UNIFIL came here in 1978. We were, because at that time there was no Hezbollah here, accused of being sympathetic to Palestinians. A peacekeeping force does not come here with pre-set enemies. There is no enemy [inaudible] in a peacekeeping force. UNIFIL is a peacekeeping force. It's not an Israeli combat force or an anti-terror force, as they would like it to be. As long as we don't serve their direct interests, they are going to denigrate it as much as they can." Timur Goksel, former spokesman of the UNIFIL, July 26, 2006^[68]

[edit] Notes

[edit] See also

• Bregman, Ahron (2002). Israel's Wars: A History Since 1947. London: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-28716-2
• Operation Litani
• Lebanese Civil War
• South Lebanon conflict
• 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

[edit] Sources

• GlobalSecurity.org Lebanon

[edit] External links

• UNIFIL - UN official mandate
• UNIFIL Deployment as of 2006 July
• Site with Pictures and stories of Dutch peacekeepers attached to UNIFIL in 1979
• UNIFIL Quip of the Day