NZDF in the Middle East

23 August 2007
by United Nations Military Observer, Lieutenant Colonel Matt Boggs

See images LT COL Boggs sent with this article by clicking on the map at right

Introduction
New Zealand Defence Force personnel have a long and proud history of service in the Middle-East, specifically with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).   Lieutenant Colonel Matt Bogg has been stationed in the area for eight months. He shares his views on being an unarmed UN military observer (UNMO)  in the complex region.

Having served with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) for eight months now, I feel comfortable enough to pen an article about what is an extremely complex region. The NZDF contributes eight unarmed United Nations Military Observers (UNMOs) to the mission.  All UNMO’s are officers and are drawn from the three Services, and from both the regular and territorial forces.

From the outset it is apparent the mission is unique. First, it is a 12 month tour as opposed to the standard six months. Second, it is not a contingent mission, which implies that UNMOs arrive and leave the mission throughout the year, and they do not operate as a NZDF specific force element but instead as a collection of individuals spread throughout the Area. Third, the Area comprises five countries from which the genesis of many of the world’s problems stem. Before describing what UNTSO does and how it does it,  is worth knowing the area’s background.

Background
In November 1947, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a plan for the partition of Palestine, providing for the creation of an Arab State and a Jewish State, with Jerusalem to be placed under international status. The plan was not accepted by the Palestinian Arabs or the Arab States.
On 14 May 1948, the United Kingdom relinquished its mandate over Palestine and the State of Israel was proclaimed. The next day, Palestinian Arabs, assisted by Arab States, opened hostilities against Israel.

On 29 May 1948 , the Security Council, in Resolution 50 (1948), called for a cessation of hostilities in Palestine and decided that the truce should be supervised by the UN Mediator, assisted by Military Observers, now known as UNMOs .

Of note is that this was the first ever UN mission, therefore it makes UNTSO the UN’s oldest mission.  In 1949, UNMO’s supervised the Armistice Agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbours, which were for many years the main basis of the uneasy truce in the area. UNTSOs activities have been and still are spread over five States, and therefore it has relations with five host countries -- Egypt , Israel , Jordan , Lebanon and Syrian Arab Republic.

Following the wars of 1956, 1967 and 1973, the functions of the Military Observers changed, but the Observers remained in the area, acting as go-betweens for the hostile parties and as the means by which isolated incidents could be contained and prevented from escalating into major conflicts.

The second point of note here is that as the UN’s first mission the mandate under which it was formed remains its current mandate. This is problematic as the authority under which we operate was drawn up under circumstances that existed in 1949 and cannot be amended without the original five signatories agreeing, something that is highly unlikely to happen in the near future.  (Subsequent UN missions have learned from this and now review their mandate regularly as situations change).

The mission is headed by a Chief of Staff which is a customary title and is the equivalent to a Force Commander in any other UN mission.  New Zealand has provided two NZDF Chief of Staff; most recently Major General Clive Lilly between 2004 - 2006. The current Force Commander is an Australian, Major General Ian Gordon.

As the regional dynamics have changed, UNTSO has changed. It now comprises 153 UNMO’s and 243 civilian staff recruited internationally and nationally. Within this organisation there is the usual array of support elements, supporting a Head Quarters in Jerusalem, three outstations based in Tiberius on the Sea of Galilee, Israel, Damascus in Syria and Naquora in the southern part of Lebanon.

There are a further three smaller locations in Beruit, Islamia in the Sinai and again in Damascus, Syria. Broadly speaking the UNMOs role within the outstations is to observe, monitor and report violations of various cease fire agreements, which they do by patrolling on or near the demarcation lines. They are not called borders as that would imply agreement between parties, which this region is lacking. In the Lebanon/Israel area the demarcation line is called “The Blue Line” which represents the line that Israel withdrew to after their withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000. The area separating Syria and Israel is centred on the occupied Golan and is called the Area of Separation.

When the Military Observers are not on patrol they live in the communities of their respective countries, renting apartments, shopping in the local markets and so on. This gives UNTSO an interesting operational feel, as it has all the trappings of a posting - just like one would experience in Devonport, Ohakea or Linton - interrupted by occasional gunfire, rocket attacks and bomb threats. So while we’re on operations, there are times when the incident and threat level is as high as anywhere Kiwis are currently serving and there are also times where it feels as if you are on peacetime duties.   

Israel
Within Israel there are two UNTSO elements, HQ UNTSO and Observer Group Golan – Tiberius (OOG-T). As mentioned HQ UNTSO is based in Jerusalem and occupies the old “Government House” building of the British mandate in Palestine. It is an imposing building and gives you a feel for what life would have been like in the days of the colonies. Sadly now, while still an impressive structure, it is falling into disrepair however it still retains a magnificent view of the Old City fort of Jerusalem, which has the church of the Holy Sepulca, the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aska mosque of the “Da Vinci Code” fame, the holiest Christian site and the third and fourth holiest sites of Islam respectively.  Within the HQ there are two NZDF personnel, myself as the Chief Joint Operations Centre, and Captain Guy Bransby, an Operations Officer in the Joint Operations Centre. It’s a pretty heavily ranked organization with the military staff in the HQ comprising a Major General, a Colonel and four Lieutenant Colonels. There are two senior civilian staff who have the equivalent rank of Brigadier General.

In Tiberius OGG-T patrol on what is called the Alfa (A) side of the Area of Separation, which is the Israeli side of the Golan. To do this they man a number of Observation Posts (OP’s) 24/7 and patrol from these Posts daily. To complete this task they have a small HQ and about 30 odd Military Observer’s commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel. The A side is relatively quiet with a number of daily violations of the ceasefire agreement but only occasional significant violations. Perhaps the biggest threat and one that is common throughout the mission is mine strikes. A combination of unmarked mines, flooding (which moves the mines), and bush fires result in daily explosions in the summer and pose a significant threat to UNMOs in the performance of their tasks. Currently Lieutenant Commander Brian Stokes is serving in OGG-T.

Syria
On the Syrian side, Observer Group Golan – Damascus (OGG-D) patrols what is called the Bravo (B) side of the Area of Separation, which is the Syrian side of the Golan. This combined with OGG-T ensures that a fair and impartial approach is taken in respect of the ceasefire agreements. The manning and operations conducted in OGG-D are identical to those under taken in OGG-T and are mixture of Out Posts and patrols. OGG-D is based in Damascus, a notable example of East meets West with heritage sites thousands of years old littered throughout the city, which is hardly surprising given Damascus is one of the worlds oldest continually inhabited cities. Western clothing stores and conveniences are readily available; all under the veil of an Islamic and one party state which make it an enriching cultural experience.

There are a number of key issues in the region at the moment with the return of the Golan being one, Syria’s relationship to Lebanon being another and rapidly emerging as a new and worrying issue is the estimated 1.5 million Iraqi refugees that are currently residing in Syria. The UNTSO forces stationed in the Golan support the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) which is a Brigade size force stationed inside the Area of Separation. UNDOF is armed and draws its main troop contributions from Austria, Poland, India and Japan. In essence while UNTSO patrols throughout the Golan, UNDOF patrols inside the Area of Separation and uses UNTSO to investigate ceasefire violations outside this area. The future of the Golan remains unclear, however recently there has been rhetoric from both Syria and Israel on the issue and while on the outside it does not appear hugely positive it has brought the issue once again back into the limelight and over time and with a little courage and trust there may be a resolution in the near future. Currently Captain Kit Taylor is serving in OGG-D.
  
Lebanon
Observer Group Lebanon (OGL) is based in southern Lebanon and supports the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). OGL consists of a HQ and three patrol bases giving them about fifty UNMO’s. They live in the southern Lebanese fishing town of Tyre or Sur as the locals call it which is famous for its Hippodrome, an ancient Roman course for chariot racing that is still largely intact. The town is full of Roman ruins and is awash with UN and aid agency staff from a multitude of organizations, including our own Mine Action Team. As with UNTSO staff in the rest of the mission the UNMO’s who operate in OGL live in the community however the community in Tyre is small and is dominated by UN staff, which gives the town an interesting ‘expat’ feel about it. OGL runs its operations out of Naquora which is to the south of Tyre and is co-located with HQ UNIFL. UNIFIL comprises of about 15 000 soldiers, and unique to UNIFIL sailors, with the UN’s only Joint Sea and Land force. OGL operates out of patrol bases that are based along the Blue Line. Unlike the Golan, OGL almost exclusively conducts patrols but apart from this exception the support they provide UNIFIL is identical to the support OGG-T and OGG-D provide UNDOF.

Unfortunately Lebanon has been cursed with conflict over the last twenty years with the latest conflict occurring in July of 2006. Following the killing of 3 IDF soldiers and the kidnap of 2 by Hezbollah, a Shia Islamic political and paramilitary organization, the IDF launched a massive air and ground operation into Lebanon. The 30 day war that followed was a good example of how, by fighting asymmetrically, an immensely capable and superior defence force can win tactically but be strategically and operationally defeated. The net effect of 30 days fighting was the destruction of most of Lebanon’s infrastructure, the death of hundreds of civilian’s and tragically the death of 4 UNTSO UNMOs. Their deaths were as a result of IDF precision guided munitions being dropped from an aircraft and striking one of the OGL patrol bases. The resulting IDF investigation blamed the cause of this incident on the IDF having an incorrect location for the forty year old patrol base. The kidnapped IDF soldiers were not rescued and their whereabouts remain unknown to this day. Recently two roadside bombs have been detonated in the area killing 6 UNIFIL peacekeepers.

The situation remains tense and threats to peacekeepers are reported daily. That said, the area is gradually returning to a semblance of normality. In April of this year we were honored to host the CDF, Lieutenant General Mateparae and the Defence Force Warrant Officer, Warrant Officer Class One John Barclay on a tour of the area. During the tour CDF visited the Lebanese Armed Forces CDF, the Force Commander UNIFIL, the COS UNTSO and the OGL AO and the Mine Action Team, its HQ and took part in a de-mining operation. The NZDF currently have four personnel serving in OGL with Major Jonty Berry in HQ OGL and Captain Sam Awarau, Lieutenant Ross Hicky (RNZN) and Flight Lieutenant Torin Kells serving on the Blue Line.

Egypt
Outside the Golan UNTSO operates three additional outposts. One is stationed in Beirut and liaises with national and international agencies based in Beirut on behalf of the COS. The second outpost conducts identical tasks and is stationed in Damascus. The third is Observer Group Egypt and is based in Islamia in the Western Sinai. OGE is very small and consists of only 4 UNMO’s. Their main role is to maintain a visible UN presence in the Sinai and is distinct from the roles and tasks of the other NZDF force elements in the Sinai supporting the Multi National Force and Observers (MFO). Where the MFO is armed and has a highly active role in the Sinai OGE is unarmed and focuses on liaison and presence activities.

Gaza and the West Bank
While not within UNTSOs mandate at all, the incidents and events that occur in the Gaza and West Bank have a direct influence on tension levels in the UNTSO Mission Area. As such UNTSO pays close attention to what is happening in these two areas and uses them as a barometer for potential future events elsewhere in the region. Recently, dramatic events have occurred in the Gaza and West Bank with the Palestinian unity government splitting into two camps. The first camp is based around the Hamas faction which is Islamic and which seized control of Gaza in a violent coup in May this year. Their rivals, the secular Fatah party, were thrown out of Gaza and retreated to their traditional stronghold of the West Bank. As a result the region has seen a gradual isolation of Hamas in Gaza and tentative acceptance of Fatah in the West Bank. These events has seen a brief lull in large scale violence in the Gaza and West Bank  However, even the most optimistic experts in the region feel that it this may be the calm before the storm.

The Future
As you can see, the region is complex. There is a relative lull in violent incidents at the moment, however looks can be deceiving. Currently there are internal security battles being fought in Northern Lebanon, terrorist targeting of peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon, sabre rattling in Syria, a weak and beleaguered government in Israel, internal strife among the Palestinians in the Gaza and West Bank and a crack down on opposition members in Egypt by the government. That said, these incidents are internal in nature and represent an improvement on the inter-state conflict that this region has a history on engaging in on a regular basis.  NZDF personnel have had a long and proud history of service in the Middle-East, specifically with UNTSO, and hopefully we are likely to continue that service for many years to come.

See images Lieutenant Colonel Matt Boggs sent in with this article at our Image Gallery

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