The UN mission in Lebanon retains the right to defend itself in case of attack

MADRID, 28 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

In recent weeks, the United Nations peace mission in southern Lebanon has become a direct actor in the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, which began with a first attack by Hamas on Israel and an immediate military response on the Gaza Strip but have spread to other scenarios such as the Lebanese border, where the Shiite militia party Hezbollah remains active. The UN contingent, with a Spanish presence, retains the right to defend itself in case of attack.

The creation of the now United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) dates back to 1978 and its first objective was to confirm Israel's withdrawal from Lebanese soil and help the local government reestablish its authority in the face of the offensive launched by the neighboring country. to contain precisely the threat that Palestinian armed groups would represent.

The evolution of events led the UN Security Council to modify the mission's mandate twice, first in 1982 and then in 2000. After the 2006 war, the size of the contingent was significantly increased and new ones were incorporated. powers, including supervising the cessation of hostilities, with broad lines that remain in force today.

The current mandate, renewed last August by the Security Council, grants UNIFIL the authority to take "all necessary measures" in the areas where its forces operate and "to the extent that it considers it has the capacity to do so." ", in such a way as to guarantee that its area of ​​operations is not suitable for "hostile activities of any kind" and that it has room to "resist attempts to prevent it by force" from executing its mission.

The wording supports that UNIFIL can therefore respond to potential threats, taking into account, however, that the resolution is included under the umbrella of Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter, intended for the "peaceful settlement of disputes" and that opens the via the use of force basically for reasons of self-defense. Chapter VII, which includes actions "in case of threats to the peace, breaches of the peace or acts of aggression", would give more room for the use of military measures.

The mission has so far avoided taking any type of direct action, despite the fact that on October 15 a missile hit a 'blue helmet' barracks.

UNIFIL remains today the UN mission that has accumulated the most fatalities since its creation, with more than 330, according to organization data updated until the end of September and collected by Europa Press. Three quarters of the deaths correspond to the climbs prior to the year 2000.

UNIFIL is followed in terms of casualties by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), with 310 deaths, and the UN African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), with 295, yes. Well, in both cases these are deployments that have already been completed.

Currently, the mission in Lebanon has room to deploy 13,000 troops, although it is not taking advantage of its full potential and is around 10,000. Of them, about 9,300 are soldiers or police from about 40 countries: Indonesia has more than 1,200 troops, while Spain, which sent its first soldiers in 2006 and had up to 1,100, has remained in the range of 600 since 2012. and 700.

The current commander of UNIFIL, General Aroldo Lázaro, is also Spanish, and this week he insisted that the 'blue helmets' "remain in their positions." "Our work continues," he declared, alluding to patrol work but also to "essential work" with all parties to "reduce tensions."

Among its tasks is monitoring the so-called Blue Line, the demarcation that the UN itself established in 2000 to separate the Lebanese and Israeli territories and which has been the scene of cross-air attacks and ground incursions in recent weeks. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that more than 20,000 people have had to leave their homes in southern Lebanon, while on the Israeli side the number of evacuees is around 80,000, according to local authorities.