UNSCR 1701 was adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council on 11 August 2006 to end the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah, which had begun on 12 July 2006 after a cross-border Hezbollah raid killed and captured Israeli soldiers.
The resolution called for a "full cessation of hostilities," which took effect on 14 August 2006. Its core provisions included:
- Withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon in parallel with the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) south of the Litani River.
- A substantial expansion of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), authorizing up to 15,000 troops (UNIFIL had existed since 1978 under UNSCR 425).
- Establishment of an area between the Blue Line and the Litani River free of armed personnel, assets, and weapons other than those of the Lebanese government and UNIFIL.
- A call for the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, consistent with the Taif Accords (1989) and UNSCR 1559 (2004).
- Respect for the Blue Line, the UN-demarcated withdrawal line from 2000.
- An arms embargo prohibiting unauthorized weapons transfers into Lebanon.
The resolution also addressed the release of captured Israeli soldiers and the issue of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, and referenced the Shebaa Farms dispute, asking the Secretary-General to develop proposals on the area's status.
Implementation has been contested. Hezbollah was not disarmed, and both sides have accused each other of repeated violations, including overflights, cross-border fire, and the presence of armed elements south of the Litani. The resolution returned to prominence after the October 2023 Israel–Hezbollah border escalation and the broader 2024 conflict, with the November 2024 ceasefire framework explicitly reaffirming 1701 as its legal basis. UNIFIL continues to monitor compliance and report periodically to the Security Council.
Example
In November 2024, the United States–brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was framed as a renewed implementation of UNSCR 1701, requiring Hezbollah forces to withdraw north of the Litani River.