UNIFIL MANDATE will finally be enforced.

T. Belman. Another victory for Trump and Israel. This resolution sounded OK but was never enforced. Rather than enabling UNIFIL and Lebanon to control Hezbollah, UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army took orders from Hezbollah and allowed them to deploy a huge stockpile of rockets. This is about to change, thanks to Trump.

UNIFIL

[…]

According to Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) of 11 August 2006, UNIFIL, in addition to carrying out its mandate under resolutions 425 and 426, shall:

• Monitor the cessation of hostilities.
• Accompany and support the Lebanese armed forces as they deploy throughout the South, including along the Blue Line, as Israel withdraws its armed forces from Lebanon.
• Coordinate its activities referred to in the preceding paragraph (above) with the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel.

• Extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons.
• Assist the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in taking steps towards the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani river of an area free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the Government of Lebanon and of UNIFIL deployed in this area.
• Assist the Government of Lebanon, at its request, in securing its borders and other entry points to prevent the entry in Lebanon without its consent of arms or related materiel.

By this resolution, the Council also authorized UNIFIL to take all necessary action in areas of deployment of its forces and as it deems within its capabilities, to ensure that its area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind; to resist attempts by forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties under the mandate of the Security Council; and to protect United Nations personnel, facilities, installations and equipment, ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers and, without prejudice to the responsibility of the Government of Lebanon, to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence.

In its resolution 1773 (2007), the Security Council acknowledged the role played by UNIFIL and the LAF in helping to establish a new strategic environment in southern Lebanon and looked forward to increased cooperation between the two forces in the discharge of UNIFIL’s mandate. In resolution 2373 (2017), the Security Council called for an “accelerated” and “durable” deployment of the LAF in southern Lebanon and the territorial waters of Lebanon, and increased support of and coordination with the LAF. It also asked for enhanced reporting to the Council on UNIFIL’s activities. In line with resolutions 2433 (2018) and 2485 (2019), LAF und UNIFIL efforts in the framework of the Strategic Dialogue are currently focused on the deployment of the LAF Model Regiment in UNIFIL’s area of operation and the development of a strategy for a phased transition of the responsibilities of Maritime Task Force to the Lebanese Navy.

At the request of the Government of Lebanon, the UNIFIL mandate is renewed annually by the Security Council.