Operation JADE

The Mission

Operation JADE is Canada's contribution to United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO). The U.N.’s oldest peacekeeping mission, UNTSO was formed in 1948 to monitor and maintain the cease-fire between the newly formed state of Israel and the neighbouring states of Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. In 1954, Canada began deploying army officers to serve with UNTSO as United Nations Military Observers (UNMOs) in the Golan Heights, south Lebanon, and the Sinai Peninsula. Today, CF members from all three environmental commands serve as UNMOs.

UNTSO has its headquarters at Government House in Jerusalem, from which it deploys UNMOs to its three Observer Groups. Observer Group Golan, which is divided between Tiberias, Israel and Damascus, Syria, supports the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force on the Golan Heights. Observer Group Lebanon, headquartered at Naqoura, Lebanon, supports the United Nations Force in Lebanon. UNTSO also maintains a presence in Egypt and the Sinai with Observer Group Egypt, headquartered at Ismailia, Egypt.

UNMOs work in multinational teams, travelling around their area of responsibility to monitor compliance with ceasefire agreements, supervise troop movements, and observe events in contested areas.

Today, the Canadian contingent in UNTSO includes seven junior officers who work as UNMOs and, when requested by the U.N., a senior officer to command an Observer Group. Operation JADE is Canada's longest-running overseas commitment.