UNIFIL MANDATE

UNIFIL Mandate

Originally, UNIFIL was established by the Security Council in March 1978 by its resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978) to:

• Confirm Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon;
• Restore international peace and security; and
• Assist the Lebanese Government in restoring its effective authority in the area.

The concept of UNIFIL operations had to be adjusted twice: following the 1982 Israeli-Lebanese war when the UNIFIL positions were overrun and its functions were limited primarily to humanitarian assistance; and after the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon to the Blue Line in 2000, enabling the Force to resume its military functions.  
Following the July/August 2006 Israeli-Hizbullah war, the Security Council, by resolution 1701 (2006) of 11 August 2006, has significantly enhanced UNIFIL and expanded its original mandate to:

• Monitor the cessation of hostilities;
• Accompany and support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) as they deploy throughout the South, as Israel withdraws its armed forces from Lebanon;
• Coordinate these activities with the Governments of Lebanon and Israel;
• Extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons;
• Assist the LAF in taking steps towards the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani river of an 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 in securing its borders and other entry points to prevent the entry in Lebanon without its consent of arms or related materiel.