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THE CONTINUING DEBATE ABOUT CREDIBLE
MANDATES AND EFFECTIVE TROOPS

UNIFIL: EVOLUTION OF A

PEACEKEEPING MANDATE

UNIFIL: evolution of a peacekee- forces as they deploy throughout two sectors, east and west, at Bri-
ping mandate the south of Lebanon and extend gade level; Five battalions are de-
its assistance to help ensure hu- ployed in Sector West, while four in
manitarian access to civilian po- Sector East. A “Force Commander
pulations and the voluntary and Reserve”, at Regimental level, is to
By Andrea Fabi
safe return of displaced persons. support both sectors as needed.
318 peacekeepers have gi- UNIFIL representative is also pre-
ven their lives in the line of sent in Beirut, as well as at Beirut
Since its foundation during WWII, duty serving within UNIFIL . airport and seaport, to facilitate
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Lebanon has been affected by in- An international effort: military rotations and shipments.
stability and confl icts, experiencing, 45 nations together for peace A Maritime Task Force (MTF), cur-
over the last decades, civil war and Nowadays, UNIFIL is composed rently composed of six vessels (one
several invasions from its neigh- of more than 10,000 military per- frigate and fi ve corvettes), has
bors, which prompted the United sonnel from 45 troop contributing also been deployed since October
Nations Security Council to deploy countries, supported by more than 2006 within the 1701 mandate, at
there, since the late 70s of the past 800 international and Lebanese the request of the Lebanese Gover-
century, a multinational peacekee- civilian staff. The Area of Opera- nment, aimed to prompt Israel to
ping force, the United Nations In- tions extends from the so-called lift its naval blockade on Lebanon.
terim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Blue Line in the south to the Litani MTF is the fi rst and only such mari-
UNIFIL’s mandated had to be river in the north and is divided in time entity in a United Nations pe-
adjusted twice due to the develop-
ments in 1982 and 2000. Then, NOWADAYS, UNIFIL IS COMPOSED OF MORE
following the July/August 2006 THAN 10,000 MILITARY PERSONNEL FROM 45
crisis, the Council enhanced the
Force and decided that in addition TROOP CONTRIBUTING COUNTRIES, SUP-
to the original mandate, it would, PORTED BY MORE THAN 800 INTERNATIONAL
among other things, monitor the
cessation of hostilities, accompany AND LEBANESE CIVILIAN STAFF.
and support the Lebanese armed

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