Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is a peacekeeping mission established by the United Nations (UN) to maintain stability along the Lebanon-Israel border. According to the UN’s official website, the Security Council formed UNIFIL in 1978 as a response to rising tensions in the region.
On March 11, 1978, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) launched a large-scale attack near the Lebanon-Israel border. This assault resulted in thousands of casualties, leaving many dead or wounded.
In retaliation, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a counterattack against the PLO in Lebanon from March 14 to 15, 1978. Alongside the military operation, Israel aimed to occupy large parts of Lebanon, sparing only the city of Tyre and its surrounding areas.
On March 15, the Lebanese government formally protested the Israeli assault to the UN Security Council, arguing that the attack had targeted civilians in Lebanon rather than the PLO.
In response to Lebanon’s protest, the UN Security Council issued a resolution on March 19, urging Israel to cease its military actions. This led to the creation of UNIFIL on March 23, 1978, in an effort to de-escalate the conflict between the two nations.
UNIFIL’s Current Forces
As of today, UNIFIL has 10,541 personnel. This number includes 9,532 military troops, 802 civilian staff members, and 202 additional employees.
Additionally, UNIFIL has approximately 13,000 members who are yet to be officially recorded. These individuals come from various UN-affiliated nations, local populations, and other international sources.
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UNIFIL’s troop-contributing countries include Indonesia, India, Ghana, Nepal, Italy, Malaysia, Spain, France, China, and Ireland. Indonesia stands as the largest contributor, with 1,234 personnel deployed to the mission. India and Ghana follow, contributing 895 and 875 personnel, respectively.
UNIFIL receives direct financial support from the UN, which covers the operational needs of its personnel in Lebanon. These funds also help procure equipment and weapons for its troops to ensure they can carry out their peacekeeping duties effectively.
(Raidi/Agung)
