The Italian contingent of UNIFIL's Joint Task Force Lebanon (JTF-L) - Sector West (SW), since February, has inaugurated a change of strategy in joint training with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
For the first time since 2006, as part of the mission in Lebanon, the courses were held in the training hub of Chawakeer (outskirts south of Tire). Study of Mission e Patrol Formation, thus introducing a new method of training that, as well as continuing at the permanent offices of the units employed by the Sector, now also develops "at home".
The training of the "home" LAF is to integrate an already consolidated system that allows exponentially increasing the number of trained, taking advantage of Lebanese military structures that accommodate a large number of soldiers; increase joint patrolling, given the savings in the use of means for moving to the UN bases and increases the level of complexity of the training.
In fact, the two courses carried out favored, in a very short time, the increase of 25% of the number of trained. In fact, if those on site allowed, on average, the formation of 20 units for a single training activity, the introduction of the new method allowed the training of 160 units on a total total of 800, in little less than 4 months.
The Chawakeer headquarters, by the end of February, will also be the scene of a large joint exercise with the LAF, called "Blue Hammer 2", to which the highest military officials of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the area have already been invited, including including the heads of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) and Lebanese State Security (LST).
During the exercise, which will constitute the continuation of the phase developed in the pre-entry preparation by the "Garibaldi" Bersaglieri brigade, pilot unit of the SW, the individual skills acquired, the ability to move on patrol will be tested, among other potentials. and the ability to conduct complex tactical activities such as, for example, those in an urban environment.
In the last period, the PIO skills course directed by the Public Information cell of the Italian Contingent and the VIP escort course, in favor of the ISF, conducted by the Carabinieri of the Military Police Unit (MP) of SW.
The objective of the Italian contingent is to guarantee the LAF full operational capability and a progressive increase in the capabilities of the same armed forces in controlling the area south of the Litani river, as indicated by Resolution 1701 of the Security Council of the 'UN.
