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THE CONTINUING DEBATE ABOUT CREDIBLE
MANDATES AND EFFECTIVE TROOPS
previous internationally recogni- zing UNIFIL to carry out additional pulations and the voluntary and
zed boundaries of Lebanon. The tasks: in addition to manning their safe return of displaced persons.
Blue Line had the sole purpose positions, would possibly extend •Assist the LAF in establishing
of confi rming IDF full withdrawal their protection and humanitarian between the Blue Line and the
from Lebanese territory: it does assistance to the population in the Litani river an area free of any
not represent in any way an in- Area of Operations. For three ye- armed personnel, assets and
ternational border and is without ars, UNIFIL remained behind the weapons except those of Gover-
prejudice to future border arrange- Israeli lines, with its role limited to nment of Lebanon and UNIFIL.
ments between Lebanon and Israel. providing protection and humani- •Assist the Government of Leba-
On 12 July 2006, war broke out tarian assistance to
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again after Hizbullah attacked an the local population.
IDF patrol killing three soldiers and Following the with-
kidnapping two. Therefore, on 11 drawal of the Israeli
August 2006, the Security Council forces in May 2000,
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adopted resolution 1701 , which the 22 January 2001
ended the war and in which the Secretary- Gene -
Council expanded UNIFIL strength ral’s report on UNI-
from 2,000 to up to 15,000 tro- FIL wrote that: “Of
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ops and enhanced its mandate. the three parts of its
The Security Council decision fol- mandate, UNIFIL has
lowed the Lebanese commitment essentially comple-
that it would deploy up to 15,000 ted two. It has confi r-
troops in southern Lebanon. med the withdrawal
It is to be noticed that, to this ex- of Israeli forces and
tent, after 2006 war no ceasefi re assisted, to the ex-
has been formally signed betwe- tent it could, the Le-
en Lebanon and Israel, therefore banese authorities
they can be still considered for- as they returned to
mally at war. Last ceasefi re un- the area vacated by
derstanding – but not a formal Israel”. Consequent-
ceasefi re – between Lebanon ly, UNIFIL’s main fo-
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and Israel goes back to 1996 . cus from then on
UN Security Council decisions was restoring inter-
Originally, Resolutions 425 national peace and
and 426 mandated UNIFIL to: security, operating
•Confi rm the withdrawal of Israeli as an observing and
forces from southern Lebanon. monitoring mission. non, at its request, in securing its
•Restore International peace and As a response to 2006 July/ borders and other entry points to
security. August crisis, Security Coun- prevent the illegal entry of arms
•Assist the Government of Leba- cil Resolution 1701, signifi cantly or related materials into Lebanon.
non in ensuring the return of its enhanced UNIFIL’s strength and The UN Security Council also au-
effective authority in the area. mandate. Indeed, in addition to thorized UNIFIL to take all neces-
the original mandate, UNIFIL shall: sary actions in its Area of Ope-
During 1982 Israeli invasion in •Monitor the cessation of hostilities. rations and as it deems within its
the so-called “Operation Peace for •Accompany and support the Leba- capabilities, to ensure that area
Galilee”, the Security Council reco- nese Armed Forces (LAF) as they de- is not used for any hostile activi-
gnized that UNIFIL was unable to ploy throughout the south of Leba- ties. It should also resist attemp-
fulfi ll its mandate under resolutions non, including along the Blue Line. ts by forceful means to prevent it
425/426 and, on 18 June 1982, •Extend its assistance to ensure from discharging its duties under
adopted resolution 511, authori- humanitarian access to civilian po- the UN mandate. And it should

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