The Dutch contribution to United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)

The 2 armoured infantry companies of Dutchbatt (Alpha Company and Charlie Company) and the armoured support company had YP 408s equipped with .50 machine guns. The support company used the vehicles mainly to transport heavy weapons such as 120 mm mortars and anti-tank weapons and the personnel who operated these weapons. In 1983, the Dutch contribution was reduced to a reinforced company of 155 service members.

Dispersed operations

On 14 March 1979, the 1st battalion took over the tasks of the French UN battalion, which was being withdrawn from Lebanon by the government in Paris. Because of the size and poor accessibility of its sector, Dutchbatt was forced to conduct highly decentralised operations. This degree of dispersion made the posts vulnerable, but at the same time also enhanced the efficiency of the operations in the sector as a whole.

Observation posts

Each of the units operated in the allocated area by means of observation posts, initially only at the highest points in the terrain. This provided good visual contact between the posts, but it was difficult to monitor or see the avenues of approach through the wadis lower down. It was not long, therefore, before the battalion leaders moved some of the posts to the wadis.

Patrolling

At first, Dutchbatt used foot patrols to cover the area between the posts. These did not always have the desired effect at night, however, as the noise they made served to warn anyone in the area. So the Dutchbatt soldiers then manned listening or observation posts at night, watching in silence for long periods at each post. During the day, social patrols were conducted to strengthen the contact with the local population.

Contribution to the reserve

UNIFIL did not have an organic reserve, but it did have an ad-hoc assembled Force Mobile Reserve (FMR). As a mobile and armoured unit, Dutchbatt played an increasingly important role in the FMR. Dutchbatt would normally supply the FMR with an armoured infantry platoon and possibly mortar and antitank capacity, and it usually provided the commander as well.

Impressing and negotiating

Because of its equipment, the Dutch battalion was guaranteed to impress any potential ‘opponent’. It would, however, be incorrect to characterise Dutchbatt’s performance in this way. Typical activities for Dutchbatt and in effect UNIFIL as a whole, if not indeed all traditional UN operations, were to actually prevent the threat and use of force by what sometimes seemed like endless negotiation.

UNIFIL powerlessness

It was by no means the case that UNIFIL was at all times able to perform its task properly. The helplessness of the peacekeepers was particularly distressing after June 1982, following the Israeli invasion into Lebanon. After June 1982, UNIFIL in effect had to operate in Israeli-occupied or Israeli-controlled territory. The IDF no longer took much notice of the UN presence. The Dutch contribution to UNIFIL decreased in 1983 to a reinforced company of 155 military personnel.