Established in June 1948 to assist the Mediator and the Truce Commission in supervising the truce in Palestine called for by the Security Council. Since its inception, UNTSO has performed various tasks entrusted to it by the Security Council, including the observation of the cease-fire in the Suez Canal area and the Golan Heights following the Arab-Israeli war of June 1967. At present, UNTSO assists and cooperates with UNDOF and UNIFIL in the performance of their tasks; observer groups are stationed in Beirut and in Cairo with liaison offices in Amman and Gaza City. UNTSO also provided cadres of Military Observers for the initial set-up of UNGOMAP, UNIMOG, UNIKOM and UNPROFOR.
The ribbon has a UN blue background with two narrow white stripes, the colours of the UN. Six months service is the eligibility period for service with UNTSO.
The following countries have provided Military Observers who are eligible for the award of this medal: Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Burma, Canada, Chile, the People's Republic of China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Portugal, the Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand. Those Military Observers of Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland and Sweden who are assigned to UNTSO as a parent mission and then detached for service with UNGOMAP are also eligible, after 90 days of qualifying service, for the award of the UNTSO medals bearing a clasp indicating service with UNGOMAP. At present, UNTSO assists and cooperates with UNDOF on the Golan Heights in the Israel-Syria sector, and with UNIFIL in the Israel-Lebanon sector.
