Middle East, UNTSO
In the Middle East, the UN’s oldest mission—UNTSO—is ongoing. Its task is to monitor the armistice agreements between Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as the peace agreements between Israel, Egypt, and Jordan.
Photo: Magnus Mimer/Försvarsmakten
In May 1948, the UN Security Council demanded an immediate end to the violence that had erupted following its proposal to divide Palestine into two states, one Arab and one Jewish. Earlier that same month, the State of Israel had declared its independence and, as a result, was attacked by the surrounding Arab states.
To ensure that the truce was upheld, the UN announced that it would be monitored by its own negotiators and military observers. In June that year, the first observers arrived, and the UN’s first mission was launched. The mission was named UNTSO – United Nations Truce Supervision Organization.
Today, the operational force consists of about 150 military observers, with Sweden contributing six officers. The tasks of UNTSO have varied over time, but the main purpose remains to monitor the agreements in place and act as an intermediary between the involved parties—all with the goal of preventing potential conflicts.
UNTSO’s observers are divided into three so-called outstations or field stations: OGL (Observer Group Lebanon), OGG-T (Observer Group Golan – Tiberias), and OGG-D (Observer Group Golan – Damascus). The observers’ duties vary depending on their location, but primarily involve patrolling, inspections, and engaging with the local population, politicians, and other key figures in society.