United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL): A Critical Assessment
The latest report, UNIFIL: A Critical Assessment, offers a sobering evaluation of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), an operation that has spanned over four decades with the aim of maintaining peace along the Israel-Lebanon border. Tasked with overseeing the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, UNIFIL’s mission was to uphold the ceasefire, support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), and ensure the disarmament of armed groups. Yet, as this report reveals, the reality on the ground is one of persistent failure, with the mission consistently falling short of these objectives.
Key Findings:
- Hezbollah’s Entrenchment in Southern Lebanon: The report starkly outlines how Hezbollah continues to wield significant military power, despite the supposed disarmament mandate. With an arsenal estimated to include 150,000 rockets and missiles, Hezbollah’s presence in the region represents a direct challenge to both UNIFIL’s authority and the security of Israel. Far from a force disbanded, Hezbollah has instead fortified its capabilities, operating with impunity under the watchful eye of the very peacekeepers meant to ensure its demilitarisation.
- Routine Obstruction and Harassment: UNIFIL has been repeatedly obstructed, its patrols blocked and even attacked in areas where Hezbollah holds sway. Such incidents have hampered the force’s ability to monitor compliance with the peace agreement and, more damningly, exposed the limited scope of its influence. The mission’s capacity to act has been repeatedly constrained by a combination of local hostility and Hezbollah’s manipulation of the situation.
- The Erosion of the Blue Line: Originally established to verify Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon, the Blue Linehas become a line in name only. Violations are commonplace, ranging from cross-border incursions to the establishment of observation posts masquerading as environmental projects, all under the aegis of Hezbollah. These transgressions are not simply breaches of protocol but blatant acts of defiance that have rendered UNIFIL’s deterrent effect practically non-existent.
- Inadequate Maritime Task Force Interceptions: The report sheds light on the Maritime Task Force’s limited success in preventing arms smuggling by sea. While the task force was ostensibly established to halt the flow of weapons into Lebanon, the persistence of arms trafficking via overland routes, particularly from Iran through Syria, has significantly undermined its efforts. The force’s inability to intercept these shipments has allowed the military build-up to continue unabated.
- Recent Escalations and Hezbollah’s Strategic Use of UNIFIL: The events following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack have led to a marked increase in Hezbollah’s military activity in southern Lebanon. Evidence suggests that the group has taken to using UNIFIL’s presence as a shield, positioning military assets near the peacekeepers to deter Israeli responses. This tactic not only compromises UNIFIL’s ostensible neutrality but also places its personnel in perilous positions, transforming them into unwilling participants in a larger strategic game.
Recommendations:
The report calls for a serious reassessment of UNIFIL’s mandate, arguing that without substantial changes, the force risks being little more than a symbolic presence in a region where symbolism is not enough. Among the measures proposed are enhanced intelligence capabilities, a revision of the rules of engagement to enable more decisive action, and increased pressure on the Lebanese government to meet its obligations under Resolution 1701. If these reforms are not realised, UNIFIL may well continue to languish in irrelevance, while the volatile dynamics of southern Lebanon edge ever closer to another conflagration.
