The maximum annual number authorized by Italy for the national contingent employed in Unifil is 1,256 Italian soldiers, 374 land vehicles and six air vehicles. These are the numbers of the UN mission in Lebanon which ended up under the blows of Israeli soldiers who hit the headquarters and two bases under Italian command.
The Unifil mission, as recalled on the Defense website, was born with resolution 425 adopted on 19 March 1978 by the United Nations Security Council following the invasion of Lebanon by Israel (March 1978). Subsequent resolutions extended the duration of the mission every six months. “Before the crisis of July/August 2006 the mission of the UNIFIL forces was to verify the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, assist the Lebanese government in re-establishing its authority in the area thus restoring international security and stability”, we read on the Ministry of Defense website.
With resolution 1701 of 11 August 2006, the United Nations Security Council provided for the strengthening of Unifil’s military contingent. Among the many objectives of the mission, monitoring the cessation of hostilities, accompanying and supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in their redeployment in the south of the country, including the Blue Line, preventing the resumption of hostilities, maintaining between the Blue Line and the Litani river a buffer area free from armed personnel, assets and armaments other than those of the Lebanese government and Unifil. Currently Unifil, we read on the Defense website, continues to monitor compliance with the ceasefire and compliance with the Blue Line. The operational activities currently carried out by Unifil consist of: observation from fixed positions; conduct of patrols; creation of checkpoints; connection with the Lebanese Armed Forces and maritime patrol.
#Unifil #hit #Israel #mission #Italian #soldiers #Lebanon