Today the Italian UNIFIL contingent in Lebanon celebrated the 10 anniversary of the approval of the UN Security Council 1701 resolution.
On this occasion, General Arturo Nitti, commander of the Italian contingent of UNIFIL's Sector West, said that "The best way to keep faith with this historic commitment by the international community and Italy under the UN banner is to continue to guarantee the full implementation of the mandate of the mission assigned to us ”.
The resolution, unanimously adopted by the 11 August 2006, ended the thirty-four days of clashes between Israel and Hezbollah's Shiite militias by sending UNIFIL's UN Helmet Blue Force 15.000, the UN Interposition Force in Lebanon of the South.
The announcement of Italian participation was given by the government with a note from Palazzo Chigi stating "the willingness to contribute to the United Nations Force" and the start of consultations "to determine its composition, structure and mandate" .
A mission that has evolved over time and that today aims to ensure the monitoring of the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon, assist the civilian population and support the Lebanese armed forces in ensuring the security of their borders and the stabilization of the area.
Facts and figures of the Italian military commitment in Lebanon are confirmed starting with the first expedition to Beirut, which in fact gave the start to Italy's participation in modern international peace missions abroad, until the start of the operation "Leonte "in the 2006.
Since then, in Lebanon, more than 32.200 Italian soldiers have alternated.
