Bundeswehr mission in Lebanon to be extended by one year

German participation in UNIFIL
© picture-alliance/dpa

German participation in UNIFIL

Germany will continue to participate in the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon. The Bundestag approved the Government’s decision to this effect on 28 June. In a roll call vote, 507 MPs came out in favour of the extension, 74 were against, and four abstained.

The mandate for German participation in the UNIFIL mission has thus been extended for another year until 30 June 2013. At present German participation comprises around 230 soldiers, two patrol boats and a tender in UNIFIL’s Maritime Task Force. The maximum authorized number of soldiers is to remain unchanged at 300.

The German Government has a strong interest in lasting peace in the Middle East. In 2006, the Lebanese Government asked the United Nations to monitor its borders from the sea. The goal is to prevent radical Islamist terrorist groups from smuggling weapons. Another priority of the mandate is training support for the Lebanese navy. The aim is to gradually transfer responsibility for monitoring Lebanon’s maritime borders into Lebanese hands. Since the last extension of the UNIFIL mandate in June 2011, concern over the security situation has increased because of domestic tensions and the conflict in neighbouring Syria.

UNIFIL operates on the basis of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) of August 2006 and the annual follow-up resolutions. The goal is to secure the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, which has been in place since 14 August 2006.

Last updated 28.06.2012

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Bundeswehr mission in Lebanon to be extended by one year

German participation in UNIFIL

Germany will continue to participate in the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon. The Bundestag approved the Government’s decision to this effect on 28 June. In a roll call vote, 507 MPs came out in favour of the extension, 74 were against, and four abstained.