"RITEX" Multinational Exercise for Unifil Blue Helmets

12/07/14

The multinational exercise called RITEX (Reserve Integration Training Exercise) was held in the Sector West of Unifil, in southern Lebanon, which was attended by all the units dependent on the Joint Task Force Lebanon, whose leadership is currently entrusted to the Ariete brigade .

The activity, planned and conducted in order to maintain the high level of training of the Unifil Mobile Reserve Forces, structures called to intervene in the event of disorders and crisis situations, has developed through the simulation of a negative event with clashes and attacks, and the subsequent execution of military actions to contain and control the crowd (Crowd and Riot Control), which allowed the units to test readiness and reaction capacity and refine the coordination procedures between the departments.

Attending the activity were also representatives of the Lebanese armed forces, with whom the blue helmets carry out numerous training and operational activities.

The general Fabio POLLI, commander of the Sector West of UNIFIL, in commenting on the results of the exercise, expressed his satisfaction for the full achievement of the pre-set training objectives and expressed his appreciation to the organizers and the participating personnel.

Joint activities with the Lebanese Armed Forces are among the tasks assigned to the blue helmets by the UN 1701 Resolution which, in addition to supporting the LAF, also includes monitoring the cessation of hostilities and assistance to the local population.