UNIFIL: A Mission in Crisis and the Need for Accountability

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), established in 1978, was originally mandated to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and assist the Lebanese government in restoring its authority in the region. Following the 2006 Lebanon war between Israel and Hezbollah, UNIFIL's mission was expanded under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 to monitor the cessation of hostilities, support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in southern Lebanon, and prevent the resurgence of conflict along the Blue Line, the de facto border between Lebanon and Israel.

Yet, despite these far-reaching mandates and the presence of nearly 10,000 peacekeepers, UNIFIL has been beset by numerous operational failures. This report analyses these failures and underscores the necessity of holding UNIFIL accountable for its inability to fulfil its responsibilities, while making a compelling case for either reform or reconsideration of its role in Lebanon.

Systemic Failures: A Closer Examination

  1. Hezbollah's Unchecked Militarisation: One of the most glaring failures of UNIFIL lies in its inability to prevent Hezbollah’s sustained military build-up since 2006. Resolution 1701 explicitly prohibits any non-state armed groups from operating in southern Lebanon. However, in the years since the war, Hezbollah has amassed an arsenal of more than 150,000 rockets and missiles, many of which are stationed within civilian areas, creating a volatile situation along Israel's northern border.
    This unchecked militarisation not only undermines UNIFIL’s mission but also threatens regional stability. Hezbollah’s capability to target Israeli cities with sophisticated weaponry has grown significantly under UNIFIL’s watch, despite the international community’s calls for disarmament.
  2. Failure to Enforce Resolution 1701: The peacekeeping force has also failed to enforce the core tenets of Resolution 1701, which includes ensuring that southern Lebanon remains free of armed militias. In practice, Hezbollah has maintained operational control of key territories, operating freely under the cover of civilian infrastructure. This not only contravenes the UN mandate but also facilitates frequent cross-border hostilities, contributing to the ongoing cycle of violence.
    Repeated Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions, as well as sporadic clashes, illustrate the extent to which the region remains a theatre for conflict, and UNIFIL has proven impotent in curbing this activity.
  3. Restricted Access and Impeded Operations: UNIFIL’s mandate to patrol and inspect key areas in southern Lebanon is routinely obstructed. Hezbollah and its supporters have repeatedly denied UNIFIL access to suspected weapons caches, military installations, and critical areas. This has severely compromised the force’s ability to execute its mission. In many instances, UNIFIL patrols have been blocked, and peacekeepers have been prevented from inspecting potential sites of Hezbollah activity, a clear violation of the terms set out in Resolution 1701.
    Such obstructions render UNIFIL little more than a symbolic presence in the region. The peacekeeping force is caught between the necessity to avoid confrontation with Hezbollah, on the one hand, and its mandate to uphold international law, on the other.
  4. Inability to Prevent Conflict Escalation: Several flare-ups along the Blue Line in recent years highlight the inadequacies of UNIFIL’s conflict prevention efforts. Notable incidents in 2015, 2019, and 2020 saw Hezbollah launch direct attacks on Israeli positions, leading to retaliatory strikes by Israel. UNIFIL, despite being present, was unable to prevent these exchanges or de-escalate tensions.
    This ongoing instability reinforces the perception that UNIFIL has failed to maintain peace and stability in the region, a core aspect of its mandate.
  5. Inaction on Hezbollah's Tunnel Network: The discovery of Hezbollah’s cross-border tunnels in 2018-2019, which were intended for offensive operations into Israel, represented a major security breach. These tunnels, dug deep into Israeli territory, were built under UNIFIL's watch, further showcasing the force’s failure to detect and neutralise threats. This raises serious questions about the efficacy of the force's monitoring capabilities.
  6. Failure to Protect Civilians: A key aspect of UNIFIL’s mandate is to ensure the safety of civilians. However, the organisation has repeatedly failed to prevent large-scale casualties, as seen in the Qana Massacre in 1996 and the devastating impacts on civilians during the 2006 conflict. Hezbollah’s practice of embedding military assets within civilian populations exacerbates this issue, yet UNIFIL has failed to challenge this strategy or mitigate its risks.

A Mission Without Accountability

UNIFIL's failures, though manifold, stem primarily from two core issues: a lack of enforcement power and a failure to adapt to the evolving security landscape. The peacekeeping force operates under a limited mandate that prevents it from engaging militarily unless attacked, severely limiting its deterrent capabilities. In effect, it is a peacekeeping mission without the tools necessary to enforce peace.

Furthermore, Hezbollah's entrenched position within the Lebanese state, coupled with the often inconsistent cooperation of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), has left UNIFIL isolated. It operates in a security vacuum, with neither the authority nor the capability to challenge the dominance of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

The Case for Reform

UNIFIL’s repeated and well-documented failures cannot continue to be overlooked. The organisation, despite its extensive resources and international support, has been unable to fulfil its mandate to disarm Hezbollah, maintain peace, and prevent hostile activity along the Blue Line. This not only poses a direct threat to Israel's security but also risks dragging Lebanon into further conflict, to the detriment of regional stability.

Given this record of failure, it is essential to reconsider UNIFIL’s future. The international community must either provide the force with the necessary tools and mandate to enforce peace robustly or explore alternative mechanisms for ensuring stability in southern Lebanon.

Without accountability and reform, UNIFIL risks becoming irrelevant, a symbolic gesture rather than an effective force for peace. The time has come to acknowledge that the status quo is unsustainable, and to pursue a more robust, results-oriented strategy that ensures regional security and stability.

 


It’s Time to Hold UNIFIL to Account: Write to the UN Secretary-General

At WBII, we’ve had enough of ineffective peacekeeping that allows threats to grow unchecked. For too long, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been failing in its core mission. Instead of preventing the militarisation of southern Lebanon, it has stood by while Hezbollah amassed over 150,000 rockets—a direct and flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

This isn’t just a bureaucratic failure. It’s a real and present danger to the lives of Lebanese and Israeli civilians, and to the stability of the region. UNIFIL, constrained by a weak mandate and consistently blocked by Hezbollah, has become little more than a bystander to Hezbollah’s military expansion.

This cannot continue. The situation demands urgent action.

We’re calling on our supporters to join us in writing to the UN Secretary-General to demand reform or, if necessary, the dismantling of this failed mission. If UNIFIL cannot do the job it was sent to do, then we must either give it the power to act or withdraw it entirely. Pretending otherwise is a dangerous delusion.

Here’s how you can help:

By adding your voice to this campaign, you can help hold the United Nations accountable for its peacekeeping failures. We’ve made it easy for you to take action. You’ll find a prepared letter template to send directly to the UN Secretary-General, urging immediate reform of UNIFIL.

It’s simple to make a difference:

  1. Download the template letter we’ve provided.
  2. Personalise our sample letter in your own words.
  3. Send your letter to the UN Secretary-General at [email protected], calling for urgent action on UNIFIL or

 

Directly follow this link.

 

The time for empty gestures is over. UNIFIL must either be fixed or brought to an end. The security of the region and the credibility of international peacekeeping depend on it.

Every voice that speaks up makes a difference. Together, we can push for the accountability and reforms needed to secure genuine peace in southern Lebanon. Don’t stand by while this failure continues—join us and take action today.

 


Model Letter:

To the Secretary-General of the United Nations,

Subject: The Immediate Need for Reform and Accountability in UNIFIL

Dear Secretary-General Antonio Guterres,

I write to you as someone deeply troubled by the ongoing failures of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and to urge immediate and decisive action to correct its course.

UNIFIL was created to maintain peace along the Blue Line and prevent Hezbollah’s militarisation of southern Lebanon. Yet, more than four decades on, the situation has deteriorated dramatically. Hezbollah has amassed an arsenal of over 150,000 rockets and missiles, all in blatant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. These weapons, embedded within civilian areas, pose an intolerable threat to both Lebanese and Israeli lives.

It is clear that UNIFIL is no longer fit for purpose. Peacekeepers are regularly blocked from accessing key areas controlled by Hezbollah, rendering their presence little more than symbolic. It is painfully obvious that UNIFIL is failing in its most basic task: preventing the very threats that it was deployed to stop. This is not simply a matter of inefficiency; it is an abject failure of duty.

For too long, the international community has looked the other way. This must end. I call on you to act decisively and immediately to address this crisis. Specifically, I urge the following steps:

  1. A Comprehensive Review of UNIFIL’s Mandate: UNIFIL must be given the power to enforce the terms of Resolution 1701. If it cannot do this, its presence in southern Lebanon must be reconsidered altogether.
  2. Greater Accountability and Transparency: The public has a right to know exactly what UNIFIL is, or rather, is not doing. Regular, transparent reports on its operations and the challenges it faces are urgently required.
  3. Support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): If there is to be any hope of restoring order, the LAF must be empowered to take control of southern Lebanon. UNIFIL must work more effectively with the LAF, or step aside.
  4. Sanctions for Obstruction: Hezbollah’s ongoing interference with UNIFIL operations must not be tolerated. Those responsible for obstructing peacekeeping efforts must face immediate and serious consequences.

Peace in southern Lebanon cannot be achieved through half-measures or wishful thinking. If the United Nations is serious about its commitment to international peace and security, it must act now. UNIFIL, in its current form, has become an international embarrassment. It is time to either reform it or withdraw it.

I urge you to take these necessary steps before the situation worsens further.

Sincerely,


[Your Name]
[Your Location]
[Your Email Address]