The Bundeswehr mission off the Lebanese coast will be continued.The German Bundestag adopted by a large majority the extension of the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) mandate until 30 June 2010. The mission's upper manpower limit will be reduced to 800 soldiers.
During the vote, held on 3 December 2009, 500 of the 592 votes cast were in favour of extending the mandate.
In his speech to the Bundestag on 26 November 2009, Federal Foreign Minister Westerwelle had called the extension a clear signal that the new Federal Government would not shy away from its responsibilities to the international community, saying that "Germany remains a reliable partner for global peace and security."
The UNIFIL operation involves naval and land forces. Germany is participating in the naval element. Since 2006 German forces have been deployed off the Lebanese coast. The naval element is charged with monitoring Lebanon's maritime border and preventing arms smuggling. The UNIFIL operation's basis in international law is decisions by the United Nations Security Council. With Resolution 1884 of 2009, the Security Council extended the UNIFIL mandate until 31 August 2010.
The deployment of UNIFIL's Maritime Task Force (MTF) following the 2006 war in Lebanon paved the way for Israel to lift its naval blockade of the country. Trade and shipping are now back to normal. Working in cooperation with the Lebanese Navy, UNIFIL has succeeded in stopping weapons smuggling at sea.
By June 2009 it had hailed approx. 25,000 ships and referred 312 of them to the Lebanese authorities for further inspection.
Strengthening the Lebanese Navy
UNIFIL is not only involved in curbing weapons smuggling, but also in helping the Lebanese Navy to monitor Lebanese waters more effectively. Germany has given the Lebanese Navy three patrol boats and rehabilitated the coastal radar system. The Bundeswehr has provided further equipment contributions e.g. for fire protection at sea.
All projects are supported by training programmes, which the Bundeswehr is running in conjunction with the Lebanese armed forces. Other international partners are also providing assistance.
What led up to Germany's presence off the Lebanese coast?
On 12 July 2006 Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite militia and political party supported by Iran, attacked an Israeli border patrol, capturing two soldiers and leaving eight others dead. Invoking its right to self-defence, Israel responded with air strikes and ground operations.
Only after several weeks of fighting did the parties agree on 14 August 2006 to cease hostilities. UN Security Council Resolution 1701 played a decisive role in bringing about the cessation of hostilities, which has been observed ever since. The Resolution comprises the following elements:
- call for Hezbollah to cease all hostilities and for Israel to cease all offensive military operations; call for Israel and Lebanon to seek a long-term peaceful solution;
- the demand for the parallel withdrawal of Israeli troops and deployment of UNIFIL troops and the Lebanese Army in the south of the country;
- respect for the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon and support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Lebanon;
- the demand for an increase in the size of the UNIFIL force stationed in the area since 1978 from previously 2000 to up to 15,000 troops as well as a broader and more robust UNIFIL mandate that would authorize the force to ensure its area of operations was not utilized for hostile activities of any kind;
- call for imposition of a weapons embargo on all non-state actors and militias in Lebanon;
- call for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance.
Following adoption of the Resolution, the Lebanese Government requested assistance in monitoring the Lebanese maritime border with a view to preventing weapons smuggling.
