Spain assumes command of the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon at a delicate moment

Madrid, Feb 5 (EFE).- Spain will assume for the second time the Command of the Force and the Head of the Mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), at a delicate moment for the stability and the future of that country.

Army Division General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz will be the Chief of Mission and Commander of UNIFIL and will exercise command over a contingent of more than 10,000 blue helmets and 800 civilians from 46 countries, explains a statement from the Ministry of Defense.

Lázaro Sáenz, who has extensive experience in the field, will replace General Stefano del Col in the position and will assume his new responsibility at the end of this month.

The UNIFIL mission is the United Nations instrument to guarantee peace on the border between Lebanon and Israel, facilitate humanitarian aid access to the civilian population, and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons. To this end, it supports the capabilities and modernization of the Lebanese Armed Forces and their work south of the Litani River, on the border with Israel.

The Spanish Armed Forces have been committed to this peace mission uninterruptedly since September 2006, when the UN asked Spain, France and Italy for a military contribution that would allow it to renew the mandate, objectives and structure of UNIFIL.

Since the beginning of the mission, Spain has been responsible for the complicated Eastern sector, integrating countries such as El Salvador, Serbia or Brazil under Spanish command.

With this appointment, the United Nations recognizes “the hard and special Spanish contribution” to the Mission, in which fifteen Spanish soldiers have died.