United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)

About United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL):

• UNIFIL is a peacekeeping force in Lebanon, originally set up by the UN Security Council in March 1978 after Israel first invaded Lebanon in what became known as the South Lebanon Conflict.
• UNIFIL was established to oversee the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and to restore peace and security in the area.
• After a 34-day war in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006, in which 1,100 Lebanese people were killed, UNIFIL’s mandate was expanded to monitor the cessation of hostilities and support Lebanese armed forces deployed throughout southern Lebanon.
• It has around 10,500 peacekeepers coming from 48 troop contributing countries.
• The largest number of UNIFIL peacekeepers come from Indonesia. Italy, India, Nepal and China also contribute a large number of soldiers to the peacekeeping force.
• Funding: UNIFIL is funded through a separate account approved on an annual basis by the General Assembly. 
• It is a part of UN Peacekeeping force.
• UNIFIL’s rules of engagement allow the use of force only if necessary for self-defense or to carry out its duties.

Q1: What is the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)?

It is one of the five principle organizations of the United Nations (UN). It has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Under the Charter of the UN, all Member States are obligated to comply with UNSC decisions.
 The Security Council takes the lead indetermining the existence of a threat to peace or act of aggression. It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement. In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.

Source: Peacekeepers in peril: Why Israel is targeting Unifil, the UN force in Lebanon, amid global criticism

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