Any limitation or lack of capacity in UNIFIL's operations is a direct result of the long-running tendency for veto-holders to limit the freedom of manoeuvre for UN forces. Another point to take onboard is who staffs these missions. 6/

When UNIFIL's current force was put together in 2006, the US and UK were stuck in the quagmire of Iraq's civil war. As a result there was no question of their being involved. In general, countries with powerful militaries avoid contributing to UN forces. 7/