Lebanon: LAF and UNIFIL in joint training

(To Army Majority State)
17/09/19

As part of the mission in Lebanon, the first module of the innovative joint training system started four months ago by the peacekeepers of the Joint Task Force Lebanon (JTF-L) of Sector West (SW) was completed. The objective of the activity is to increase the capacities of the LAF, as well as to increase the interoperability of the Lebanese units operating jointly with the forces of UNIFIL.

The command of the Lebanese Armed Forces of the South and the Command of the JFT-L SW shared the opportunity to plan the capacitive development of the LAFs over a period of time longer than one semester and more effectively.

The planning of training activities was changed from a monthly basis to an annual basis in order to achieve greater familiarity with the procedures for carrying out joint activities, aimed at the control and internal security of the territory.

The intermediate end-of-module exercise, planned and conducted with the contribution of all 13 nations belonging to the Sector West led by the Aosta brigade, was developed through check-point exercises, vehicle and personal searches, areal and punctual control in an urbanized context, personal defense and medical evacuation, eventually allowing the training of about 800 Lebanese soldiers.

In addition, the presence within the Italian-led UNIFIL team of health personnel trained at the Army School of Health and Veterinary, as well as Serbian specialists in first aid techniques in a hostile and non-permissive environment, has made it possible to instruct everything Lebanese personnel on technical assistance to the wounded in operations.

As part of the aforementioned activities, the Command of the Sector West fielded its own experienced officers in the field of operational and training planning, organizing with the instructors of the Lancers Regiment of Aosta (6th) and of the 4th Engineers' Guastatori Regiment of Palermo, as well as the 62nd “Sicilia” infantry regiment of Catania, intense training activities at the Chewakeer shooting range, near the ancient Phoenician city of Tire.

The activities of the contingent of the mission in Lebanon are carried out in full compliance with United Nations resolution 1701 which provides, among the tasks of the Blue Helmets, to assist the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF, Lebanese Armed Forces).