At the military base of Al Mansouri, in the Italian-led operations area in southern Lebanon, the ceremony was held for the transfer of responsibility of the ITALBATT contingent between the Alpine troops of the 7th regiment of Belluno and the cavalry regiment Guide (19th) of Salerno.
Colonel Antonio Arivella in command since last April 24 of the ITALBATT maneuvering Task Force, unit based on 7th Alpini Regiment and Piedmont Cavalry Squadron Group (2nd), has transferred responsibility for the area of national competence in the land of the cedars to parigrade Giacomo Giannattasio, deployed in the theater of operations with the Cernaia battalion of the 8th Bersaglieri regiment.
Since last April i peacekeepers Italians have operated in the area under the aegis of the United Nations and in compliance with the 1701 resolution of the 2006. The approximately 9000 operational activities carried out during the six months of mandate, are the indicator of the intense commitment that has seen the men and women of ITALBATT work day and night even in close cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Lebanese Army (LAF ), with a particular attention aimed at patrolling along the demarcation line called Blue Line.
In parallel and with the same concrete approach, numerous cooperation activities with local institutions took place. Donations of vehicles for different uses, including an ambulance, as well as health supplies have reached all the existing 19 municipalities in the area. No less important is the contribution of the ITALBATT medical team, with almost 1000 patients visited during the numerous health care activities carried out, above all, for the elderly and children of the most disadvantaged communities.
In his farewell speech, Colonel Antonio Arivella thanked the many local civil and religious authorities met daily during these months. The collaboration with them made it possible to share a common line of action, aimed at the needs of the population: "welcome, respect and solidarity are the feelings that accompanied the relationships of this intense period of work".
A particular recognition was underlined for the exceptional spirit of collaboration shown by the LAF and the professional contribution of the highest level, expressed by the blue Serbian helmets, framed in the Italian-led unit.
The commander of the Joint Task Force Lebanon - Sector West, Brigadier General Diodato Abagnara, attended the ceremony and, on this occasion, thanked Colonel Arivella for the very high results achieved, stating that these "must be taken as an example and constitute the starting point for the achievement of more and more goals, in compliance with the dictates of the mandate of the United Nations, alongside the local population and jointly with the LAF ".
