UN Security Council Resolution 1701 is an important document in the context of Lebanon-Israel relations, which was Passed to resolve the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict (also known as the Second Lebanon War). It was unanimously adopted on August 11, 2006
Its key provisions included a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon (implicitly including Hezbollah).
It also called for the Lebanese government to extend its authority over all Lebanese territory. In order to help the government, it authorized an increase in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from 2,000 to 15,000 troops. It also expanded UNIFIL's mandate to assist the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon
It imposed an arms embargo, prohibiting the sale or supply of arms and related materiel to Lebanon except as authorized by its government annd called for the unconditional release of abducted Israeli soldiers
What is the Litani River and how is it relevant to this resolution?
The Litani River runs roughly parallel to Lebanon's southern border with Israel, about 30 kilometers to the north. The resolution designates the area between the Litani River and the Blue Line (the UN-demarcated border) as a zone that should be free of any armed personnel, assets, and weapons other than those of the Lebanese government and UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon).
This effectively establishes the river as a northern boundary for a buffer zone aimed at preventing rocket attacks on northern Israel and maintaining regional stability.
UNIFIL's mandate under Resolution 1701 includes assisting the Lebanese Armed Forces in securing this area.
However, the continued presence of Hezbollah south of the Litani is completely contrary to the resolution's provisions. America has expended great efforts in trying to the Hezbollah to move away from the Litani, however all of their diplomatic efforts have been in vain as Hezbollah has continued its near-daily cross border attacks on the civilians of Northern Israel, even going so far as to massacre 12 innocent Druze children who were playing soccer one Saturday afternoon in August.
