United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria
{{Short description|United Nations peacekeeping mission in Syria}}
{{Infobox United Nations
| image = Emblem of the United Nations.svg
| image_size = 120px
| name = United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria
| map =
| map_caption =
| type =
| abbreviation = UNSMIS
| leader_title = Head
| leader_name = Robert Mood
until date
Babacar Gaye
| formation = 21 April 2012
| website =
| parent_organization = United Nations Security Council
| subsidiaries =
| footnotes =
}}
The United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) was a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Syria, set up in 2012 as a result of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2043 in response to the Syrian Civil War.{{cite web|title=UNSMIS Background|url=https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/past/unsmis/background.shtml|access-date=2021-04-06|publisher=United Nations}} It was commanded by Norwegian Major General Robert Mood{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/UN-leads-global-calls-for-action-against-violence-in-Syria/articleshow/13564462.cms|title=UN leads global calls for action against non violence in Syria|date=2012-05-27|work=The Times of India}} until 20 July 2012 followed by Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye from Senegal. Although observers remain in the country, Mood suspended their mission on June 16, 2012, citing "escalating violence".{{cite web|title=UN suspends Syria peace mission|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18471686|work=BBC News|access-date=16 June 2012}} Observers will conduct no further patrols and stay in their current positions until the suspension is lifted. On 20 July 2012, the Security Council extended UNSMIS for a final period of 30 days. According to resolution 2059, the Council would only consider more extensions in the event that the Secretary-General reports and the Security Council confirms the cessation of the use of heavy weapons and a reduction in the level of violence sufficient by all sides to allow UNSMIS to implement its mandate.{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unsmis/mandate.shtml |title=UNSMIS Mandate – United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria |publisher=Un.org |access-date=2013-12-07}}
Make-up and strength
Resolution 2043 authorizes up to 304 unarmed military observers, plus an appropriate civilian component. As of 30 June 2012, UNSMIS consisted of 280 military observers, 81 international civilian staff and 41 local civilian staff. Military personnel came from Armenia, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritania, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Vietnam, Yemen and Zimbabwe.{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unsmis/facts.shtml |title=UNSMIS Facts and Figures – United Nations Supervision Mission Syria |publisher=Un.org |access-date=2013-12-07}}
On 25 July 2012, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous announced that about half of the military observers have been sent back to their countries.{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unsmis/documents/Press%20conference_25%20July%202012.pdf |title=Transcript of the press conference by Herve Ladsous : Damascus 25 July 2012 |publisher=Un.org |access-date=2013-12-07}}
On August 16, France's UN Ambassador Gerard Araud, the current Security Council president, said the conditions to extend the mission beyond August 20, among which a significant reduction of violence, were not met and the mission would end. Russia organised new UN meetings in New York on Friday, August 17, and called on all sides to end the violence.{{cite web|last=Issacharoff |first=Avi |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/un-security-council-decides-not-to-extend-observers-mission-in-syria-1.458844 |title=UN Security Council decides not to extend observers mission in Syria Israel News |publisher=Haaretz |date=2012-08-16 |access-date=2013-12-07}}
On 20 July, the Security Council extended UNSMIS for a final period of 30 days. According to resolution S/RES/2059, the Council would only consider further extensions to the mission ‘’in the event that the Secretary-General reports and the Security Council confirms the cessation of the use of heavy weapons and a reduction in the level of violence sufficient by all sides'' to allow the UNSMIS monitors to implement their mandate. The two conditions set by the Council were not met. This was reported in a Secretary-General’s letter to the Security Council on 10 August, in which he also set forth his observations on the future work of the United Nations in Syria.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{2011 Syrian uprising}}
{{UN Peacekeeping Operations}}
Category:United Nations operations in Asia
Category:2012 in military history
Category:International reactions to the Syrian civil war
Category:Middle East peace efforts