Israel's Litani operation, and Resolution 425 creates UNIFIL — Key Events — Levant

What happened

Israel moves into southern Lebanon up to the Litani river against PLO forces. On 19 March 1978 the Security Council adopts Resolutions 425 and 426, calling for Israeli withdrawal and establishing the UN Interim Force in Lebanon to confirm it and assist the Lebanese government in restoring its authority in the area.

UNIFIL has been the standing international presence south of the Litani for nearly half a century, and the Litani the reference line of every later arrangement. Resolution 2790 (2025) ends its operations on 31 December 2026, so the oldest component of the Israel–Lebanon architecture is the one now being removed.

Confidence: High

When14 – 19 Mar 1978

KindMilitary · Diplomatic

ArenaIsrael–Lebanon / Blue Line

Confidence: High Sources: UN Security Council resolutions, Secretary-General reports and meeting records (Levant)↗ · UNIFIL — UN Interim Force in Lebanon ↗ · Established historical record Methodology Corrections

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Connected records

3 records that this event names, or that name it — every one an explicit reference in a published record, nothing inferred from subject matter.

Actors2

Actor records this event names.

Participants1

Organisations this event records, with the role and confidence it states.

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)Participant

Where this fits

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