U.N. Peacekeepers in Lebanon Get Stronger Inspection Powers for Hezbollah Arms
30, 2017
The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday voted to renew the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon for another year after addressing American and Israeli complaints
that the force was ignoring a Hezbollah arms buildup near Israel’s border.
They also argued that the resolution of 2006, which empowered Unifil’s border functions, already included language authorizing the force to "ensure
that its area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind." Lebanon opposed any change in Unifil’s role, but wanted the force to remain in the country.
The resolution requests that Secretary General António Guterres examine ways to "increase Unifil’s visible presence, including through patrols
and inspections." Both Israel and the United States have grown increasingly strident in recent days over what they have described as a blatant buildup of Iranian weaponry by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon including hidden rockets.
Unifil has been deployed in Lebanon for nearly four decades
but its mandate was widened to patrolling Lebanon’s border with Israel after the 2006 war between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.
Under compromise language in a Security Council resolution reauthorizing the mandate, Unifil’s soldiers
will play a greater role in assisting Lebanon’s military in keeping the border area secure.
The annual renewal of the mandate for the force, known as the United Nations Interim
Force in Lebanon, or Unifil, had become a contentious issue in the council.
