The ITALAIR Task Force (TF), an Italian helicopter component deployed as part of the mission in Lebanon, has completed 40 years of continuous presence.
Originally called "ITALAIR Helicopter Squadron", the unit was deployed near the town of Naqoura, south of the land of cedars, from 3 July 1979, to fulfill the requirements of the resolutions 425/1978 and 426/1978 of the Council of United Nations security which, subsequently, gave life to the United Nation Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), with the mandate to restore international peace and security and assist the Government of Lebanon in the recovery of its effective authority in the territory.
Following the escalation of the conflict between Lebanon and Israel in 2006, the United Nations, with resolution 1701 of the same year, extended the powers of UNIFIL, expanding its mandate in monitoring the cessation of hostilities between the two countries, assisting the Armed Forces Lebanese and support the local population.
In this context, the ITALAIR Task Force ", thus renamed since 2006, carries out different types of flight missions in the area of operations, ranging from medical evacuations (Medevac), for which an asset is always in operational readiness, to fire prevention in wooded and rural areas; from logistical transport to air patrols on the Blue Line, the 120-kilometer “practical” demarcation line that separates Lebanon from Israel; from research and support to the population in the event of public calamities to the transport of visiting Authorities in the areas under the responsibility of UNIFIL.
The ITALAIR Task Force, established in 1979, continuously supports the activities of the United Nations in Lebanon, guaranteeing its performance throughout the Operations Area on a daily basis and 24 hours a day. ITALAIR is an inter-force unit (Joint) that currently employs AB-24 helicopters of the Italian Army Aviation, based on the 212nd AVES "Sirio" Regiment, stationed in Lamezia Terme, and flight and military support crews belonging mainly to to the Italian Army, with the help of the Navy and the Air Force. It is the longest-running operational unit of the Italian Armed Forces in the context of international missions as well as being the only inter-force flight unit (with Joint crews) deployed by Italy in an Operating Theater.
The heart of the TF consists of 6 dual-turbine helicopters AB 212, with day and night instrumental flight capability, integrated self-protection system and stabilization and with the possibility of landing on any surface of the operation area, with flight autonomy estimated at just under 2 hours. From the 3 July of the 1979, ITALAIR has completed approximately 42.100 flight hours, transported over 171.000 passengers, performed 1.250 medical evacuations for a total of 48.400 flight missions carried out.
To celebrate the XNUMXth anniversary, a commemorative ceremony was organized yesterday at the ancient Roman vestiges of the Hippodrome of Tire, in which, in addition to the local authorities, the Italian ambassador to Lebanon Massimo Marotti, the head of mission and force commander of UNIFIL division general Stefano Del Col, the commander of the Western Sector of UNIFIL and commander of the Italian contingent in Lebanon.
To celebrate the event, 39 officers and non-commissioned officers came from Italy, today no longer in active service, who in the past years have come and gone in the ITALAIR team.
During the ceremony, the fallen of the 6 August 1997 flight incident were remembered, costing the lives of 3 crew members and 2 passengers.
