Force Mobile Reserve (FMR) was a multi-national, mechanized, high-readiness military reserve force, established in 1987, and able to react to incidents anywhere in the United Nations Interim Force in the Lebanon (
UNIFIL
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon ( ar, قوة الأمم المتحدة المؤقتة في لبنان, he, כוח האו"ם הזמני בלבנון), or UNIFIL ( ar, يونيفيل, he, יוניפי״ל), is a UN peacekeeping m ...
) area of operations.
Background
In 1986, the armed wing of the
Shiite
Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that the Islamic prophet Muhammad designated ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as his successor (''khalīfa'') and the Imam (spiritual and political leader) after him, most ...
Amal movement clashed gravely with French UNIFIL forces. It became apparent that UNIFIL could no longer continue
peacekeeping
Peacekeeping comprises activities intended to create conditions that favour lasting peace. Research generally finds that peacekeeping reduces civilian and battlefield deaths, as well as reduces the risk of renewed warfare.
Within the United N ...
along the same path. Hence, the decision was taken to redeploy about half the French battalion to UNIFIL headquarters at
Naqoura
Naqoura (, ''Enn Nâqoura, Naqoura, An Nāqūrah'') is a small city in southern Lebanon. Since March 23, 1978, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been headquartered in Naqoura.
Name
According to E. H. Palmer (1881), the nam ...
to operate as the Force's mobile reserve.
On June 1, 1987, Force Mobile Reserve was established, composed of soldiers from each of the contributing contingents of UNIFIL. The deployment came with a mission to demonstrate an international willingness to resist attempts by forceful means to prevent UNIFIL from discharging its duties. FMR was via UNIFIL Force Commander placed under direct orders from the
Secretary-General
Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the organization. The term is derived ...
.
Operations
FMR reinforced UNIFIL's battalions when serious incidents occurred and during rotations. In February 1988 FMR was equipped with
Sisu Pasi
The Patria Pasi (earlier known as the Sisu Pasi) is a Finnish-made six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier (APC) originally designed for Finnish Defence Forces. The first variant was produced in 1983 and serial production began in 1984. It was des ...
XA-180 APCs set with 12.7 / 50 .cal HMG. The FMR was rigidly trained in public order and major incident reaction techniques. In addition the FMR also trained for air mobile operations using
Bell 212
The Bell 212 (also known as the ''Twin Two-Twelve'') is a two-blade, medium helicopter that first flew in 1968. Originally manufactured by Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth, Texas, United States, production was moved to Mirabel, Quebec, Canada in ...
helicopters to rapidly insert into trouble areas.
In contrast to the merely military duties of FMR came the rescue operation of civilians following the
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; he, צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the Israel, State of Israel. It consists of three servic ...
IDF
Qana shelling during the IDF Operation Grapes of Wrath in the
1996 Lebanon war.
[Human Rights Watch, Israel/Lebanon: "Operation Grapes of Wrath" - The Civilian Victims, 1 September 1997, available at:http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/3ae6a7e60.html]
Gallery
Image:FMR_Norplatoon.jpg, Norplatoon FMR on patrol
Image:Camp_Grotle.jpg, FMR base, Camp Grotle
Image:FMR_Fiji.jpg, FMR visiting UNIFIL OP
References
{{reflist
External links
FMR Video
Peacekeeping missions and operations involving the United Nations
United Nations military personnel