Here’s what you need to know UNIFILthe UN interim force in Lebanon:
Security Council mandate
UNIFIL was created by the Security Council in March 1978, after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. His mandate was to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, restore international peace and security, and assist the Lebanese government in restoring its effective authority in the area.
It was not until 2000 that Israel withdrew from Lebanon. In the absence of an agreed border, the UN has identified a 120-kilometer withdrawal line known as the Blue Line, which UNIFIL monitors and patrols.
Following a deadly 30-day conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, the Council expanded the mission with an updated resolution. Resolution 1701 expanded the original mandate to include supervision of the cessation of hostilities.
It also tasked UNIFIL peacekeepers to escort and support the Lebanese Armed Forces as they deploy across southern Lebanon.
Read the UN news explainer about Resolution 1701.
What did UNIFIL say after the Israeli attacks on Lebanon?
UNIFIL warned on October 6 In 2024, the country announced that it was “deeply concerned by the recent activities of the IDF immediately adjacent to the mission’s position,” in Sector West, on Lebanese territory.
According to the UN, the mission continued to observe heavy firefights.
“Both airstrikes and IDF ground incursions targeted multiple areas along the Blue Line,” said UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, adding that “Hezbollah launched dozens of attacks during the same period, including to destroy IDF ground incursions and target areas in the region. Northern Israel itself.”
UNIFIL added that “this is an extremely dangerous development. It is unacceptable that the safety of UN peacekeepers carrying out their duties assigned by the Security Council is jeopardized.”
What are the peacekeepers doing?
UNIFIL peacekeepers play a crucial role in helping prevent unintended escalation and misunderstandings between Israel and Lebanon through the mission’s liaison mechanism.
They patrol southern Lebanon to impartially monitor what is happening on the ground and to report violations of Resolution 1701.
Peacekeepers are also supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) through training, to help strengthen the LAF’s deployment in southern Lebanon so that they can eventually take over the security tasks currently carried out by peacekeepers.
Peacekeepers remain in position and continue to carry out their assigned duties, although patrols and logistics activities are much more challenging due to the current security situation.
They may have to return to their bases or even go to shelters if there is a possible immediate threat to their safety.
UN photo/Pasqual Gorriz
UNIFIL also has a Maritime Task Force, the first of its kind in a UN peacekeeping mission, which supports the Lebanese Navy in monitoring Lebanon’s territorial waters and preventing the entry into the area of operations of unauthorized weapons and related equipment.
The mission said the “MTF deployment was a milestone that led Israel to lift its naval blockade on Lebanon in 2006.
UNIFIL also facilitates the access of humanitarian actors to support the local civilian population and provides protection to civilians when the Government of Lebanon cannot.
Peacekeepers also support local communities through projects and donations in healthcare, education, infrastructure and more.
UNIFIL in numbers
Currently, the mission employs nearly 11,000 people, including approximately 10,000 military personnel, as well as approximately 550 local and 250 international civilians.
About 50 different countries are contributing troops to the mission. Indonesia is currently the largest contributor with more than 1,200 uniformed personnel.
The MTF currently consists of five ships; there are also six helicopters supporting UNIFIL’s work.
UNIFIL’s annual budget is approximately half a billion dollars.
