United Nations Disengagement Observer Force
The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) Zone was established by the United Nations after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 350 [1] on the same day the "Agreement on Disengagement" (S/11302/Add.1, annexes I and II) [2] was signed between Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights on May 31 1974.
The Resolution brought conclusion to the cease fire at the end of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The Force has since performed its functions with full cooperation from both sides according to a mandate that has been renewed every six months since 1974. The UNDOF is the only military presence operating in the zone and continues to supervise the cease fire. The situation in the Israel-Syria sector has remained quiet and there have been no serious incidents.
History
On 6 October 1973, war erupted in the Middle East between Egyptian and Israeli forces in the Suez Canal area and the Sinai, and between Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights. The conflict is now known as the Yom Kippur War. United Nations Security Council Resolution 338 was approved on 22 October 1973 calling for a cease fire. The cease fire did not last however, as the Egyptian forces broke the terms of the cease fire two days later. Resolution 339 was adopted and United Nations Emergency Force II moved into place between Israeli and Egyptian armies in the Suez Canal area, stabilizing the situation.
Resolution 339 primarily reaffirmed the terms outlined in Resolution 338 (itself based on Resolution 242). It included returning the forces of both sides back to the position they held when the initial cease fire came into effect, and a request from the United Nations Secretary-General to undertake measures toward the placement of observers to supervise the cease fire.
Tension remained high on the Israel-Syria front, and from March 1974 the situation became increasingly unstable. The United States undertook a diplomatic initiative, which resulted in the signing of the "Agreement on Disengagement" (S/11302/Add.1, annexes I and II) between Israeli and Syrian forces. The Agreement provided for a buffer zone and for two equal areas of limitation of forces and armaments on both sides of the area. It also called for the establishment of a United Nations observer force to supervise its implementation. The Agreement was signed on 31 May 1974 and, on the same day, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 350 by which it set up the UNDOF and the UNDOF Zone.
Geography
The buffer zone is about 80 km long and from 0.5 to 10 km wide. The zone separates the Golan Heights and Syria where the Golan Heights border is known as Line "Alpha" and the Syrian border is known as Line "Bravo". The zone also borders Lebanon to the north and forms a border less than 1 km with Jordan to the south.
The terrain is hilly on the highlands within the Anti-Lebanon mountain range system. The highest point in the zone is at Mount Hermon (2814 m) on the Lebanese border.
UNDOF
The initial composition of the UNDOF in 1974 was of personnel from Austria, Peru, Canada and Poland. Today, about a thousand troops are provided by Austria, Canada, India, Japan, Nepal, Poland, and Slovakia. The troops are assisted by military observers from the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization's Observer Group Golan, international and local civilian staff.
The UNDOF is deployed within and close to the zone with two base camps, 44 permanently manned position and 11 observation posts. The operation headquarters are located at Camp Faouar and an office is maintained at Damascus. The Austrian battalion and a Slovak company is deployed in the north; while the Polish battalion is deployed in the south with its base camp in Camp Ziouani. The Canadian and Japanese logistic units perform second-line general transport tasks, rotation transport, control and management of goods received by the Force, and maintenance of heavy equipment. First-line logistic support is internal to the contingents and includes transport of supplies to the positions.
The current force commander is Lieutenant-General Bala Nanda Sharma of Nepal. Mine clearance is conducted by both battalions directed from the UNDOF headquarters. The annual approved operating budget is under 45 million USD.
As of 2006, there have been 42 fatalities including one civilian staff since 1974.
Mandate
In recommending the extension of the mandate, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan observed that despite the present calm in the Israeli-Syrian border, the situation in the Middle East was likely to remain tense. Until a comprehensive settlement was reached, the Secretary-General considered the continued presence of UNDOF in the area to be essential.
The activities of the UNDOF include:
- Overall supervision of the buffer zone
- Monitoring of Syrian and Israeli military presence in the area (from permanent observation posts and by patrols day and night, on foot and motorised)
- Intervention in cases of entry to the separation area by military personnel from either side, or attempted operations
- Bi-weekly inspections of 500 Israeli and Syrian military locations in the areas of limitation on each side to ensure agreed limits of equipment and forces are being followed
- Assistance to the International Committee of the Red Cross in the passing of mail and people through the area, and in the provision of medical services
- Identifying and marking of minefields
- Promotion of minefield awareness amongst civilians and support of the United Nations Children’s Fund activities in this area
- Work to protect the environment and to minimise the impact of the UNDOF on the area.
Civilian Activities
The buffer zone is currently inhabited and is policed by Syrian authorities. There are several towns and villages within and bordering the zone. The largest of which is Al Qunaytirah. Land mines continue to pose a significant danger to the UNDOF and the civilian population. The fact that the explosives have begun to deteriorate worsens the threat.
Members of the UNDOF are usually the only individuals to cross the Israeli-Syrian border through the zone. Since 1988, Israel has allowed Druze pilgrims to cross the border to visit the shrine of Abel in Syria. In 2005, Syria allowed a few trucks of Druze-grown Golan apples to be imported. The trucks themselves were driven by Kenyan nationals. Since 1967, brides have been allowed to cross the Golan border, but they do so in the knowledge that the journey is a one-way trip. This phenomenon is shown in the Israeli-Arab film The Syrian Bride.
The defunct Trans-Arabian Pipeline crosses through the southern half of the zone. Israel had permitted the pipeline's operation through the Golan Heights since the territory came under Israeli control as a result of the Six-Day War in 1967. However, this section of the line beyond Jordan have ceased operation since 1976 over transit fees by Lebanon and Syria, emergence of oil supertankers, and pipeline breakdowns.