The three objectives behind the UN force in southern Lebanon

Background

Behind the UNIFIL withdrawal in the news this week: the force was created by the Security Council on 19 March 1978, and the first peacekeepers arrived on 23 March 1978. The Council set three objectives for it. The first was to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon. The second was to restore international peace and security. The third was to help the Government of Lebanon re-establish its authority in the region. The mission has since patrolled the Blue Line, the line used to mark the Israeli withdrawal, and reports violations along it. Its headquarters is at Naqoura in southern Lebanon. Many of its staff are Lebanese nationals recruited locally.