Lebanon
Current Operations
UNIFIL
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UN-led)
Since: 03/78
More Information
Lebanese interim PM drops out (30.03.2005)
(Quelle: The Guardian) The acting Lebanese prime minister, Omar Karami, dropped his efforts to form a new government last night, casting doubt on whether parliamentary elections can be held as planned in May.
U.N. report quotes threat by Assad to harm Hariri (24.03.2005)
(Quelle: Washington Post) Syrian President Bashar Assad threatened former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri with 'physical harm' last summer if Hariri challenged Assad's dominance over Lebanese political life, contributing to a climate of violence that led to the Feb. 14 slayings of Hariri and 19 others, according to testimony in a report released Thursday by a U.N. fact-finding team. ... The 20-page report, presented to the U.N. Security Council on Thursday afternoon by Secretary General Kofi Annan, represents the most damning official account of Syria's role in Lebanon.
Bomb explodes in Christian area north of Beirut (23.03.2005)
(Quelle: The Independent) A bomb killed two people in a Christian commercial centre in Lebanon today. It was the a second attack on an anti-Syrian stronghold in five days and raised fears of sectarian violence intended to show a need for Syria's military presence in Lebanon.
Lebanon’s impasse (22.03.2005)
(Quelle: ISN Security Watch) As Lebanon enters the second week of talks on the formation of a national unity government, the political stand-off gripping the country since the assassination of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri on 14 February does not appear to be progressing towards a swift solution.
U.N. expects Syria out of Lebanon by may (18.03.2005)
(Quelle: Washington Post) U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan expects Syria to withdraw all of its 20,000 troops and intelligence agents from Lebanon before the country holds parliamentary elections this spring, according to a statement issued by his spokesman. The announcement marked the first time that the United Nations has set a deadline for the complete withdrawal of Syrian security forces, who have held sway over Lebanon for 29 years.
Syria withdraws 4,000-6,000 troops (17.03.2005)
(Quelle: Washingtomn Post) Syria completed the first phase of its troop pullout from Lebanon on Thursday, bringing Damascus closer to meeting U.S. and Lebanese opposition demands that it quit the neighbor it has dominated for three decades.
After Syria, a UN role in Lebanon? (15.03.2005)
(Quelle: Christian Science Monitor) The withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon has spurred some members of the United Nations Security Council to assess the possibility of dispatching a stabilization force to fill any security vacuum that might arise. ... Past peacekeeping efforts in Lebanon have ranged from the disastrous Multi-National Force (MNF) mission in 1983 - that was driven out of Beirut by a barrage of suicide bombers - to the impotent UN peacekeeping effort in south Lebanon.
UNO droht Syrien mit Ultimatum (14.03.2005)
(Quelle: Die Welt) Nach der erneuten Nominierung des prosyrischen Politikers Omar Karami als Regierungschef spitzte sich die politische Krise im Libanon weiter zu. Oppositionsführer kündigten Demonstrationen für das Wochenende an und planen für Montag die größte Kundgebung überhaupt seit Beginn der Proteste. Derweil wollen die Vereinten Nationen nach Informationen der 'Washington Post' ein Ultimatum an Damaskus richten.
Lebanon opposition reject Karami’s offer (11.03.2005)
(Quelle: ISN Security Watch) Lebanese opposition groups have rejected an offer by the country’s newly reinstated pro-Syrian prime minister, Omar Karami, to form a government of national unity to end the political crisis in Beirut, describing the offer as a thinly veiled attempt to neutralize the anti-Syrian opposition. On Thursday, Lebanon’s pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud re-appointed Karami - who had resigned amid mass protests only 11 days ago - as prime minister.
Syria to quit Lebanon before poll (09.03.2005)
(Quelle: BBC) Syria says it will leave Lebanon before the country's general election in May. 'We will withdraw as soon as possible, without delay and probably a long time before the election,' said Imad Moustapha, Syrian ambassador to the US. Syrian troops have already begun pulling out of southern and northern Lebanon, Lebanese officials say. Lebanese President Emile Lahoud is due to begin talks with parliamentary deputies after which he is expected to name a new pro-Syrian prime minister.
US, France tell Syria to leave Lebanon (02.03.2005)
(Quelle: Washington Post) In a tough warning to Syria, the United States and France on Tuesday demanded an immediate and total withdrawal of all Syrian troops and intelligence agents from Lebanon. They also urged other nations to help chart a more stable future for Lebanon, including sending international monitors to observe its crucial spring elections.
Sturz der libanesischen Regierung (01.03.2005)
(Quelle: NZZ) Die libanesische Opposition hat die Regierung Karamé mit einem Trommelfeuer der Kritik im Parlament und einer Massenkundgebung im Zentrum der Hauptstadt zum Rücktritt bewogen. Sie fordert eine neutrale Übergangsregierung zur Abhaltung der Parlamentswahl und eine Einigung mit Syrien über einen Truppenabzug.
Damaskus offensichtlich zum Truppenrückzug bereit (24.02.2005)
(Quelle: taz) … Der Druck auf Damaskus wächst und zeigt Wirkung: Die syrische Regierung werde bald mit der Umsetzung des Taif-Abkommens, das den Abzug verlangt, beginnen, sagte der Chef der Arabischen Liga, Amr Mussa. Dies habe ihm der syrische Präsident Baschar Al Assad versichert.
U.N. team to probe Hariri assassination (23.02.2005)
(Quelle: Washington Post) The United States and France expressed confidence that a U.N.-appointed team led by a top Irish police official will be able to determine who was responsible for assassinating former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. … After a public briefing Tuesday on Mideast issues, Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast told a closed-door Security Council meeting that the inquiry team led by Deputy Police Commissioner Peter Fitzgerald would arrive in Beirut in the next 48 hours, U.N. diplomats said.
Tumulte bei Trauerzug (17.02.2005)
(Quelle: taz) Hunderttausende Libanesen haben die Trauerfeierlichkeiten für den ermordeten früheren Ministerpräsidenten Rafik Hariri zu einer Demonstration gegen das Nachbarland Syrien genutzt. Unter die Trauer um den langjährigen Regierungschef mischten sich bei der zeitweise tumultartigen Großkundgebung wütende Rufe nach einem Abzug syrischer Truppen aus dem Libanon und nach einem Ende der politischen Einflussnahme durch Damaskus.
U.S. and U.N. step up pressure on Damascus (16.02.2005)
(Quelle: Washington Post) After months of brewing tensions, the United States yesterday ratcheted up the pressure on Syria, joining forces with France and pressing for action at the United Nations to get Damascus to curtail its military intervention in Lebanon. … At the United Nations, the Security Council expressed grave concern about the killing of Hariri, who had played a central role in rebuilding war-ravaged Lebanon.
Lebanese warn of parallels to 1970s volatility (16.02.2005)
(Quelle: Washington Post) A day after the assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri, senior Lebanese officials warned that the country was entering a volatile period similar to the year preceding Lebanon's long civil war. They urged calm among angry opposition leaders and thousands of citizens who hold the government responsible for Hariri's death.
UN envoy seeking withdrawal of foreign troops from Lebanon holds talks in Beirut (08.02.2005)
(Quelle: UN News) Secretary-General Kofi Annan's newly appointed envoy seeking the withdrawal of foreign troops from Lebanon conferred with Lebanese leaders today on the estimated 14,000 troops which Syria still has on its smaller neighbour's soil. Terje Roed-Larsen, who earlier in the week met with Syrian officials in Damascus, 'is confident that positive results can be expected in the course of his assignment,' a UN spokesman said in New York.
Mandate of UN force extended until July (28.01.2005)
(Quelle: UN News) Calling for an end to 'serious breaches' of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, the Security Council today extended the mandate of the peacekeeping United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for another six months and urged Lebanon to deploy an adequate number of security forces along the so-called Blue Line between the two countries.
With tensions high between Israel and Lebanon, Annan recommends renewal of UN force mandate (20.01.2005)
(Quelle: UN News) Recommending a six-month extension of the United Nations peace-monitoring force's mandate in the so-called Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon, Secretary-General Kofi Annan says two incidents in January decisively shattered a period of relative calm over the past six months.
Uno-Soldat von israelischen Granaten getötet (09.01.2005)
(Quelle: Spiegel Online) Die Palästinenser wählen - doch die Spirale der Gewalt dreht sich weiter: Die radikalislamische Hisbollah hat bei einem Angriff auf eine israelische Patrouille einen Soldaten getötet. Das israelische Militär schlug zurück, doch bei dem Vergeltungsakt kam ein französischer Uno-Soldat ums Leben.
Outgoing UN Envoy Makes Final Visit to Peacekeepers in Lebanon (10.12.2004)
(Quelle: UN News) The top United Nations envoy in the Middle East has paid a farewell visit to the UN's peacekeeping mission in Lebanon as he gets ready to leave after more than five years in his post. Terje Roed-Larsen, who has been the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process since September 1999, met Gen. Alain Pellegrini, Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), spokesman Fred Eckhard told reporters today in New York.
UN envoy voices concern over rocket attacks from southern Lebanon (16.11.2004)
(Quelle: UN News) The United Nations envoy to Southern Lebanon today expressed his serious concern over repeated violations of the line marking Israel's withdrawal from the area after two rockets were fired from the Lebanese side on Monday.
Syria 'refusing to leave Lebanon' (01.10.2004)
(Quelle: BBC) Syria has not withdrawn troops from neighbouring Lebanon, as demanded by a Security Council resolution, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan says. In a written report, Mr Annan told the Council that Syria has so far refused to say when and how troops would leave.
Syria shifts troops from Beirut (21.09.2004)
(Quelle: BBC) Syrian forces in Lebanon have begun moving back towards the Syrian border, as part of a major redeployment. Troops dismantled bases south-east of Beirut, before regrouping and heading towards the eastern Bekaa Valley. The move comes three weeks after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution urging Syria to withdraw from Lebanon.
Security Council extends UNIFIL mandate (30.07.2004)
(Quelle: UN Wire) The U.N. Security Council yesterday extended the mandate of the U.N. force responsible for overseeing the border between Israel and Lebanon, UNIFIL, through Jan. 31, 2005, citing mounting tensions in the area.
Extension for UN Lebanon mission urged as tension mounts at withdrawal line (21.07.2004)
(Quelle: UN News) Amid mounting tensions at the withdrawal line between Israel and Lebanon, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has recommended extending the UN force in the area for an additional six months. Over the last two days, the situation has taken a turn for the worse marked by deadly violence. 'It has been some 48 hours of increased tension and there have been a number of provocative acts during this time,' Mr. Annan's Personal Representative for Southern Lebanon, Staffan de Mistura, said today. He called on all parties 'to exercise maximum restraint to restore calm and to abide by their commitments to maintain such calm.'
UN officials work to restore calm after clashes across withdrawal line (20.07.2004)
(Quelle: UN News) According to preliminary reports from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a Hezbollah sniper fired across the western part of the Blue Line, which marks the withdrawal line of Israeli forces, at an Israeli army position. Two Israeli soldiers were mortally wounded. Israeli units retaliated with missiles and tank rounds fired back across the Blue Line killing a Hezbollah fighter, a UN spokesman reported.
UN envoy calls for end to violations of withdrawal line between Israel, Lebanon (08.06.2004)
(Quelle: UN News) The United Nations envoy for southern Lebanon said today he was concerned by a series of Lebanese rocket attacks yesterday morning and then the retaliatory overflights and aircraft fire by Israeli forces. Staffan de Mistura, the Personal Representative of Secretary-General Kofi Annan for Southern Lebanon, issued a statement urging the parties along the line of withdrawal between Lebanon and Israel, known as the Blue Line, to avoid all acts of hostility by acting with the “utmost restraint.”
Blauhelmsoldat erschossen (24.02.2004)
(Quelle: taz) Ein Blauhelmsoldat der UN-Mission in Südlibanon (Unifil) ist nahe der Grenze zu Israel erschossen worden. Zu der Tat bekannte sich nach Unifil-Angaben die Gruppe 'Jugend des Widerstands'. Sie solle eine Warnung für die Friedensschützer in Grenzgebiet sein, ihr Mandat nicht zu überschreiten und dem Feind zu dienen.