The "Sassari" brigade has taken over the "Taurinense" Alpine brigade under the command of the "Leonte" operation as part of the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) mission, the UN interposition force in southern Lebanon.
General Luciano Portolano, head of mission and commander of the UN forces in southern Lebanon, oversaw the ceremony of transfer of responsibility between General Franco Federici and the paris of Arturo Nitti.
The ceremony took place in the presence of the Chief of Defense Staff, General Claudio Graziano, who praised the Alpine troops of Taurinense for the important work done.
"You have been excellent ambassadors of the United Nations, having based your work on dialogue and cooperation. Once again, you have demonstrated the peculiarity of the Italian way in peacekeeping operations, conducted with balance, professionalism, impartiality, diplomacy, effectiveness, credibility and respect".
The mission of the "Taurinense" brigade was characterized by the sharing of a common project achieved through dialogue with the population and its institutions.
The consensus was at the basis of every activity carried out by the Italians of the Alpine contingent, thanks to which the effectiveness of the operational activities for maintaining the stability of the area and the confidence of the Lebanese population towards UNIFIL was increased.
In emphasizing the distinctive features of the mission, General Graziano addressed the "Dimonios", defining them "soldiers highly regarded for their courage and determination. The strong cohesion of your brigade has always been a determining factor for the success of operations at home and in the numerous peacekeeping missions abroad.".
The "Sassari" brigade, on its first mission in Lebanon in the colors of the United Nations, assumes command of the western sector of UNIFIL in which 3.700 "blue helmets" of 12 nations operate.
The multinational contingent includes 1.000 Italian soldiers, half of them belonging to the "Sassari" brigade.
