UN Peacekeeping Missions: History and Operations
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization – UNTSO
Established in 1948, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) is the organization’s longest-running peacekeeping mission. For nearly sixty years, it has monitored ceasefires, supervised armistice agreements, prevented isolated incidents from escalating, and assisted other United Nations peacekeeping operations in the region. Throughout the year, UNTSO military observers have assisted and cooperated with UNDOF in the Golan, in the Syrian-Israeli sector, and with UNIFIL in the Lebanese-Israeli sector. Military observers were also in Sinai, in the Egyptian-Israeli sector. In addition to its headquarters in Jerusalem, UNTSO has offices in Beirut and Damascus.
UNOGIL – United Nations Observation Group in Lebanon – 1963 – 1964
The United Nations Observation Group in Lebanon (UNOGIL) was a short-lived mission focused on ensuring no illegal infiltration of personnel or weapons across the Lebanese borders.
UNEF I – First United Nations Emergency Force (Egypt) 1956 – 1967
Established to guarantee and supervise the cessation of hostilities, including the withdrawal of the armed forces of France, Israel, and the United Kingdom from Egyptian territory. Once the withdrawal was completed, it served as a buffer zone between Egyptian and Israeli forces. Egypt forced UNEF I to withdraw in May 1967.
UNEF II – Second United Nations Emergency Force – 1973 – 1979
UNEF II was established in October 1973 to supervise the ceasefire between Egyptian and Israeli forces and, following the conclusion of the agreements of January 18, 1974, and September 4, 1975, to supervise the redeployment of Egyptian and Israeli forces and to man and control the buffer zones established under those agreements.
UNDOF – United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (Golan Heights) – 1974 to Present
The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) continues to monitor the 1974 ceasefire between Israel and Syria and the respective separation of forces from both countries in the Golan, with the cooperation of the parties. The ceasefire was maintained in the Syrian-Israeli sector except for two exceptions: a January shootout, west of the ceasefire line in the southern section of UNDOF’s area of operations, and an Israeli airstrike northeast of Damascus in October. At the end of the year, the Secretary-General considered that despite the seeming calm in the Syrian-Israeli sector, the situation in the Middle East was very tense.
UNIFIL – United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon – 1978 to Present
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) remains focused on maintaining the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon by observing from fixed positions, as well as mobile and airborne patrols along the Blue Line between the two countries. The Force also mediates with the parties to resolve incidents and prevent their intensification. Tensions were palpable throughout the year, and there were continued violations of the Blue Line.