Security Sector Reform Lebanon
- Duration
- 3 January 2008 - 3 December 2008
- Military personnel
- 7
- Fatalities
- none
- Decorations
- none
In 1975, a civil war broke out in Lebanon. That war was the result of internal tensions and conflicts. The Muslim population was unhappy about the socio-economically privileged position of the Maronite-Christian elite.
There was also considerable opposition to the strict religious sectarianism in Lebanese society and in the political system. Lastly, the Maronites were fearful of the Palestinian groups, some armed, which were acting more and more as a 'state within a state'. Under pressure from the Arab League, the civil war in Lebanon came to a temporary halt in October 1976.
An Arab deterrent force was created and tasked with restricting the freedom of movement of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and ensuring that the organisation observed Lebanese laws. However, Israel threatened to intervene if Syrian troops crossed an imaginary line running from east to west at the latitude of the port city of Sidon. The power vacuum made it possible for the PLO to carry out attacks on Israeli territory from its bases in South Lebanon.
Israel occupies Lebanese territory
Israel responded by occupying Lebanese territory up to the Litani River during the night of 14 to 15 March 1979. The Lebanese government filed a protest with the UN Security Council, which then adopted a resolution requiring Israel to withdraw from Lebanon.
Israeli troops again invaded Lebanon in July 2006. Their aim was to permanently eliminate the threat posed by Hezbollah, a Shia militant group based in Lebanon and backed by Iran, to the state of Israel. The Israeli invasion was less successful than military analysts initially thought, however. Hezbollah managed to resist the most powerful army in the Middle East. Israel ultimately withdrew.
Enlargement of UNIFIL
The UN Security Council substantially increased the size of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). UNIFIL was also given additional powers. The force was to assist South Lebanon against hostile acts. It was also expressly tasked with supporting the return of the Lebanese army in the southern part of the country.