The Middle East is one of the most volatile regions in the world, and peacekeeping missions in the region have been a constant challenge for decades. With ongoing conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and Libya, and renewed tensions between Israel and Palestine, the situation in the Middle East remains fragile.
Overview of Middle East Peacekeeping Missions
Since the early 1990s, the United Nations has been involved in peacekeeping missions in the Middle East. The United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) was created in 1948 to monitor and maintain the armistice agreements between Israel and the neighboring Arab countries. The UNTSO has since been joined by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), and the United Nations Multinational Force and Observers (UNMFO).
With the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, the United Nations Security Council established the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) to monitor a ceasefire between the Syrian government and the opposition forces. UNSMIS was later replaced by the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in Syria (UNOSMS).
Latest Developments in Middle East Peacekeeping Missions
In recent years, there have been several developments in the peacekeeping missions in the Middle East. In December 2018, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to establish a new United Nations mission in Syria, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Syria (UNPFS). The mission will be tasked with monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and opposition forces, as well as providing humanitarian assistance.
In August 2019, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of UNIFIL in Lebanon. The resolution highlighted the importance of continued UNIFIL involvement in helping to maintain the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, as well as providing humanitarian assistance to the Lebanese people.
In April 2021, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the UNMFO in Egypt. The resolution called for an increased focus on the monitoring of the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, as well as the continued monitoring of the Sinai Peninsula.
Conclusion
The Middle East remains a volatile region, and peacekeeping missions in the region have been a constant challenge for decades. In recent years, there have been several developments in the peacekeeping missions in the Middle East, including the establishment of a new United Nations mission in Syria, the extension of the mandate of UNIFIL in Lebanon, and the extension of the mandate of the UNMFO in Egypt. As the situation in the region remains fragile, these peacekeeping missions will be essential in maintaining peace and stability in the region.