The Italian soldiers of the Joint Task Force Lebanon (JTF-L) conducted the joint exercise “Blue Hammer 2” in the training hub of Chawakeer (Tire) with the Lebanese Armed Forces.
The purpose of the exercise was to increase the training level and amalgamation of the units belonging to the LAF, to implement cooperation with the units employed by the UNIFIL SW and to achieve the correct modus operandi in the continuous search for training aimed at full implementation. of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701/2006.
The training center, inaugurated in February and renamed "Garibaldi" training area for the occasion, belongs to the 54th tank battalion of the 5th brigade and was the setting for an exercise conceived, planned and conducted by the LAF, in close coordination with the Sector West (SW) of UNIFIL. For this purpose and for home training, in the recent period, the area has been divided into five training boxes, conceived respectively for individual combat training (AIC), the Military Sports Gymnastic Training Circuit (CAGSM), the Method of Military Combat (MCM), Close Quarter Battle (CQB) and hand-fired fire training.
The exercise took place in the presence of the highest military and civilian positions in the area, including the commanders of the 5th and 7th brigades of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) - units located respectively in Sector West and Sector East of UNIFIL, of the South Litani Sector (SLS) and of the LAF Intelligence, as well as of the prefect, the mayor and the honorary consul of Italy of the city of Tire,
The "Blue Hammer 2" represented the synthesis of an intense joint training cycle, which began in November last year and was conceived mainly on the basis of the courses of Study of Mission, Patrol Formation, Observation Post, Fighting In Built-Up Areas (FIBUA) and CQB. In this context, about 120 soldiers including LAF and ITALBATT instructors, the Italian-led Maneuvering Task Force, based on the “Guide” cavalry regiment (19th), gave life to the first exercise developed in a Lebanese military base.
Specifically, the activity was divided into four phases: AIC, application of basic self-defense techniques and MCM; overcoming an obstacle course (CAGSM); tactical combat activities in an urban environment (CQB) with the use of Explosive Detection Dog (EDD) and medical rescue assets and the use of shooting simulation systems used by the Italian Army; dynamic fire activity, with ordinary ammunition and opposing forces represented by shapes, during which the Lebanese Quick Reaction Force (QRF) and ITALBATT Battalion Mobile Reserve (BMR) guaranteed areal safety and immediate support for the entire duration of the 'intervention.
The "Blue Hammer 2" also constituted a moment of meeting and discussion for the commanders of the Lebanese Security Forces at all levels, who also took the opportunity to meet at the end of the activity with the commanders of SW and ITALBATT, in order to define the training and future operational activities aimed at achieving the full operational capability of the units of the Lebanese Armed Forces deployed in South Lebanon.
