Expert Explains: What role UNIFIL plays in Lebanon, India’s contribution to it

It noted that breaching a UN position and damaging UN assets is a “flagrant violation of international law and [UN] Security Council resolution 1701”, and “it endangers the safety and security of our peacekeepers in violation of international humanitarian law”.

Israel has demanded that UNIFIL should vacate its positions along the Blue Line, a 120-km-long “line of withdrawal” set by the United Nations in 2000 along Lebanon’s southern border in order to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory. UNIFIL has reaffirmed that “despite the pressure being exerted on the mission, peacekeepers remain in all positions and will continue to undertake their mandated tasks”.

First, why are UN peacekeepers present in Lebanon?

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was established by a resolution of the UN Security Council in 1978, in response to Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon. Israel had said it was acting to expel armed Palestinian elements operating from Lebanon.

According to UN Security Council resolutions 425 and 426, adopted in March 1978, the UNIFIL was established to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, restore peace and security, and to help the Lebanese government in restoring its control and authority.

Southern Lebanon, which shares a border with Israel, has been the site of repeated conflicts between the IDF and Hezbollah. Israel vacated its occupation of Southern Lebanon in 2000, but a fresh conflict broke out in July 2006. On August 11, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1701, which called for Israel and Lebanon to support a permanent ceasefire and significantly expanded UNIFIL’s mandate.

The resolution stated that there would be no ammunition and armaments in Southern Lebanon except those possessed by the Lebanese armed forces. UNIFIL’s strength was augmented to 15,000 uniformed personnel, and it was assigned duties to assist the Lebanese forces in monitoring and supervisory roles, along with providing humanitarian aid.

Are Israel’s actions against international law?

Attacks on UN peacekeepers are in contravention of international law. However, despite condemnation, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not backed down, and instead asked the UNIFIL to “move out of harm’s way”. In a way, he is asking them to cease performing the responsibilities given to them by the UN Security Council. This is a violation of the sanctity and the mandate of the UN.

UN peacekeepers have come under attack in various parts of the world in the past, but these were by non-state actors. Many of Israel’s actions do not behove the dignity, stature, and obligations of any UN member state. Earlier this month, the Israeli government declared UN Secretary General António Guterres persona non grata and barred him from entering the country. Last year, Israel had called for Guterres’ resignation. Respect for the office of the Secretary General is a part of the UN Charter. Israel has also repeatedly attacked the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), alleging it has links with anti-Israel militant organisations, and called for it to be disbanded. UNRWA has rejected these allegations. More than 220 UNRWA officials have been killed in Gaza — the highest death toll in the history of the UN.

Are Indian troops part of UNIFIL?

India is one of the largest contributors of troops to UNIFIL. Indonesia sends the largest number of personnel, and India, Italy, and Ghana are among the other big contributors. As of October 20, 2024, India had 903 personnel in UNIFIL, after Indonesia’s 1,230 and Italy’s 1,043.

India has had a presence in UNIFIL since 1998. INDBATT, as the Indian batalion is called, has been renowned for its utmost professionalism, valour, and local outreach. They have also undertaken some quick-impact projects. For example, in 1999, INDBATT built a public park in a town called Ebel el Saqi in southern Lebanon. It has a statue of Mahatma Gandhi and is called the Mahatma Gandhi Park. It was renovated in 2020. INDBATT also built a stadium named after Sardar Patel at a village called Kawkaba.

In addition, INDBATT has helped local communities with IT equipment, diesel generators, etc. Our medical mission, which is a component of the Indian battalion, has always been highly sought-after in the region.

Israel alleges UNIFIL has not done its job in Southern Lebanon, which has forced Israel to eliminate Hezbollah itself.

To blame UNIFIL would not be fair. The mandate of UN peacekeeping missions is not to engage in armed action except in self-defence. As per UN Security Council Resolution 1701, it is the Lebanese armed forces who are in control of that area, with assistance from the UNIFIL. Assistance does not mean that UNIFIL will take armed action.

An important part of the UNIFIL’s mandate has been to render humanitarian assistance, which it has been discharging admirably. In the face of Israeli hostilities, the UNIFIL has made it clear that it will not vacate its positions.

As far as Hezbollah is concerned, its reality in Lebanon is multifaceted and multidimensional. It is also a political and cultural force that enjoys legitimacy in Lebanon, with Hezbollah and its allies having 62 of the 128 democratically elected seats in Lebanon’s Parliament. If you were to ask average Lebanese about Hezbollah’s armed wing, they would probably say that Hezbollah is the country’s de facto defence force. However, this is not at all to say that the Lebanese defence forces have abdicated their responsibilities.

So where is the Lebanese army in all of this? Are they fighting against Israeli forces?

This is not an Israel-Lebanon war. This is Israel’s aggression in Lebanon, and Lebanon is in self-defence mode, repeatedly calling for a ceasefire.

The Lebanese armed forces are highly professional, but given the tempestuous history of the country and the economic troubles it is currently facing, the army does have a severe resource crunch. It does not have a large budget, and its technology and armaments are very meagre compared with the far more powerful and technically advanced Israeli military.

Sanjiv Arora, IFS (retd), is Former Secretary of MEA, India’s Ambassador to Lebanon from 2016 to 2019, and to Qatar from 2012 to 2016. He was head of UN-Political division in MEA from 2005-2008. Since May 2024, he has been a member of the Indian National Congress. He spoke to Yashee in his personal capacity