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B
rig Gen Patrick Phelan
was selected by the UN as
Deputy Force Commander
UNIFIL and assumed his appointment on April 28th. When we
visited Lebanon recently Brig Gen
Phelan talked to us about the current situation.
"The current role of UNIFIL is
essentially laid down in UN Resolution 1701, which augments its predecessor resolutions 425 and 426,
which brought UNIFIL here in the
first place. Our primary functions
are: monitoring the cessation of
hostilities; to accompany and support the Lebanese Armed Forces
(LAF) as they extend the authority
of the government of Lebanon in
the South; and to assist the LAF in
maintaining an area between the
Blue Line and Litani River free of
armed personnel, weapons and
other ordnance. If requested by the
government of Lebanon we may
also assist in the control of their
borders and other entry points. We
also have another responsibility in
facilitating humanitarian access
and supporting the voluntary safe
return of refugees and displaced
persons. We co-ordinate our
activities with the parties involved,
primarily the LAF and the Israeli
Defence Forces (IDF).
"We focus our activities in two
directions. One is along the Blue
Line, to determine if things are
calm, stable and peaceful, and deconflict issues that arise that may
lead to tension and escalate out
of hand. The other primary focus
is deeper in the area of operations
(AO) between the Blue Line and
Litani River, to confirm that there
is no military activity other than
that of the UN and the LAF. This is
primarily executed through patrols
referred to as 'counter-rocketlaunching patrols'. In addition, we
work to a significant degree at
maintaining a very good relationship with the local population.
Again, de-conflicting issues that
may arise between the parties is
very important.
"A unique mechanism known as
the Tripartite Mechanism has been
An Cosantóir Feb 2013 www.dfmagazine.ie
