United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
	UNIFIL deployment (as of 2018)
Abbreviation	UNIFIL
Formation	19 March 1978
Type	Peacekeeping mission
Legal status	Active
Headquarters	Naqoura, Lebanon
Head	Head of Mission ; Maj. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz
Parent organization	United Nations Security Council
Website	unifil.unmissions.org

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Arabic: قوة الأمم المتحدة المؤقتة في لبنان, Hebrew: כוח האו"ם הזמני בלבנון), or UNIFIL (Arabic: يونيفيل, Hebrew: יוניפי״ל), is a UN peacekeeping mission established on 19 March 1978 by United Nations Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426, to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon which Israel had invaded five days prior, in order to ensure that the government of Lebanon would restore its effective authority in the area.^[1] The 1978 South Lebanon conflict came in the context of Palestinian insurgency in South Lebanon and the Lebanese Civil War.

The mandate had to be adjusted twice, due to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and after the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000. Following the 2006 Lebanon War, the United Nations Security Council enhanced UNIFIL and decided that in addition to the original mandate, it would, among other things, monitor the cessation of hostilities; accompany and support the Lebanese Armed Forces as they deploy throughout the south of Lebanon; and extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons.

UNIFIL's mandate is renewed annually by the United Nations Security Council; it was most recently extended on 1 September 2023 with the passing of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2695. It is composed of 10,000 peacekeepers from 46 nations, tasked with helping the Lebanese Army keep the south of the country protected.^[2] Its funding is approved on an annual basis by the General Assembly. It had a budget of $474 million for the period July 2018 to June 2019.^[3]

^ "Extracts relating to Article 98 of the Charter of the United Nations: Supplement No 5 (1970–1978)" (PDF). Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs. United Nations. pp. §275–279. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
^ "UNIFIL mandate renewed, peacekeepers to help Lebanese Army". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 30 August 2021.
^ "Approved resources for peacekeeping operations for the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019". United Nations General Assembly. United Nations. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.

[UNSup5-1] "Extracts relating to Article 98 of the Charter of the United Nations: Supplement No 5 (1970–1978)" (PDF). Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs. United Nations. pp. §275–279. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2006.

[2] "UNIFIL mandate renewed, peacekeepers to help Lebanese Army". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 30 August 2021.

[3] "Approved resources for peacekeeping operations for the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019". United Nations General Assembly. United Nations. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.

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