With the ongoing scrutiny on the well-being of Irish soldiers who are stationed with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), there has been a surge in discussions amongst politicians, Defence Forces heads, and pundits about the significance of the UN’s peacekeeping venture in Lebanon and the need for Ireland to remain an active participant. What hasn’t been clearly outlined, however, is the essence of this mission – describable only in vague references as the “international community’s lens and ears” – and how it’s feasible to carry on this mission amidst warfare conditions, which obviously influence the safety of our Irish soldiers.
Unifil, unfortunately, has been predominantly unsuccessful, even with about 10,000 personnel from various nationalities, including 380 Irish soldiers, and an expenditure of approximately $500 million (€456 million) annually.
Unifil’s role is anchored on the UN Security Council Resolution 1701 from 2006. The goal was to establish a demilitarised region in South Lebanon between the Litani river and the Israel-Lebanon frontier. This followed the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizbullah. As mandated, Israel returned to its border position while Hizbullah, which was supposed to move beyond the Litani river and disarm did otherwise, amassing monumental military strength in South Lebanon.
Unifil was given the somewhat impossible task of overseeing compliance with Resolution 1701, particularly challenging given Hizbullah’s blatant disobedience. In addition, Unifil was authorised to enforce the resolution, such as disarming Hizbullah or confiscating weapons, if instructed by the Lebanese army. No such request has been made in 18 years, and questions still remain if Unifil, lightly armed, would have dared to act on such a request resulting in a face-off with Hizbullah.
Unifil has been steadfast in its supervision and routine patrols, crafting quarterly briefings even with its mandate no longer in effect. All its actions are controlled by Hizbullah, who often disquiet Unifil and determine its scope of operation. Yet, since the previous October and even more so since Israel’s invasion into Lebanon territory, Unifil’s underlying vulnerabilities have been exposed, positioning it in the centre of a fatal clash that Israel believes it has played a part in instigating.
Against this backdrop, the viewpoint of the Irish Government and delusive proclamations from the Defence Forces regarding our soldiers’ “commitment” to accomplishing Unifil’s “mission” are unfathomable. It merely shows how the UN is sacrosanct in Ireland, allowing such assertions to pass without dispute.
Micheál Martin, Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister, stated that the government relies on the UN to determine whether and when to commence withdrawal, ruling out any unilateral retreat from Ireland. The Deputy Prime Minister would be well-advised to study up on UN’s peacekeeping history, which has been inconsistent at best. From the Balkans to Rwanda, Somalia and beyond, the decisions made by the UN’s senior ground officials have led to appalling outcomes. It would be perilous to gamble our soldiers’ safety based on their judgement.
In its current state, it is hard to envision the survival of Unifil amid the ongoing conflict. The time is ripe for Ireland to withdraw. – Respectfully,
ALAN O’SULLIVAN,
Kilcoole,
Co Wicklow.