It is difficult to think of a United Nations agency that has failed more clearly in its core mission than the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. UNIFIL — and there was certainly no shortage of candidates this year.
Next, 2006 Israel-Lebanon Warlaunched in response to Hezbollah terrorists. ambushed Eight soldiers killed in Israeli border patrol, two others kidnapped, UN Security Council adoptsResolution 1701. This mandated the creation of a demilitarized zone south of the Litani River in Lebanon, and tasked UNIFIL with overseeing Hezbollah's disarmament and withdrawal from the area.
But that didn't happen.
Instead, with the connivance of the Lebanese government, Hezbollah established entrenchments, literally digging tunnels along the border with Israel. it has accumulatedarmory It has an arsenal of missiles and suicide drones, as well as more than 150,000 Iranian-made precision-guided rockets. All this happened under UNIFIL's watch.
UNIFIL's ineffectiveness has been highlighted over the past 12 months. The day after Hamas rampage On October 7, 2023 in southern Israel, Hezbollah also joined the war and made conceptual plans.reenact a similar massacre Located in northern Israel. The group has since been fired Over 10,000 rockets Attack on Israel from southern Lebanon, killing dozens and displacing people tens of thousands of IsraelisFrom their home.
It is reasonable to ask whether UNIFIL has done anything to protect UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The answer is not substantive.
Just this week, Hezbollah's terror tunnels and weapons were located meters away from UNIFIL observation posts and bases, literally within a stone's throw of UN peacekeepers. It is simply unbelievable that UNIFIL was unaware of this situation.
Rather, Iran was extremely incompetent, acting only as a passive bystander while Iran's main terrorist proxy armed itself for war with Israel. Or, worse, it provided a shield that enabled Hezbollah to attack Israeli civilian communities, complicating Israel's subsequent response.
On Sunday,statementA statement issued on behalf of UN Secretary-General António Guterres defiantly reiterated that “UNIFIL peacekeepers remain in all positions and the UN flag continues to fly.” Sure, that's a lofty statement. But that obscures the true contours of the problem.
By remaining in place, UNIFIL not only obstructs the IDF's legitimate military operations against Hezbollah, but also recklessly endangers its own peacekeeping forces.
Just the other day,5 UNIFIL peacekeepers injured due to negligencewhen Israeli forces fired in their direction during a battle with Hezbollah terrorists near the Lebanese stronghold of Nakoura. This tragic outcome is the result of UNIFIL's refusal.Repeated advance request by IsraelThis is to withdraw from Hezbollah strongholds and active combat areas.
But UNIFIL is more than just an obstacle. It also became a positive enabler. Last month, at least 25 rockets and missiles were fired at Israeli communities and forces integrated into the Hezbollah terrorist organization.Near UnifilIt is stationed in southern Lebanon, taking advantage of its proximity to UN forces. In one of the incidents, two Israeli soldiers were killed.
So how is UNIFIL entrusted with maintaining peace and continuing its mission?
In the 18 years since UN Security Council Resolution 1701 was adopted, UNIFIL has continued to fail miserably, allowing Hezbollah to rearm and entrench itself in southern Lebanon, in the process setting the stage for the current conflict. Moreover, it was made possible with international support and massive support from the United States. Last year, the United States$143 millionIt will be deployed to UNIFIL in 2023, representing about a quarter of its military force.Total budget is $507 million. And history suggests that once the current war ends, it won't be long before Hezbollah returns to southern Lebanon, despite UNIFIL's presence there.
However, there are currently only two viable options. Either UNIFIL ceases to serve as a pawn of Hezbollah and actually enforces UN Security Council Resolution 1701, or it closes up shop and retreats.
In other words, either the UN does its job or let Israel do it.
Arsen Ostrovsky is CEO of the International Law Forum and a senior fellow at the Misgaff Institute for National Security. Ilan Berman is Executive Vice Chairman of the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, DC.
