Yesterday, the training week agreement was concluded which saw the Italian contingent in Lebanon engaged simultaneously in two multinational exercises, the "Steel Storm" and the "Blue Phoenix 1-17".
The "Steel Storm", every six months, aims to improve the efficiency of the peacekeepers in terms of use of individual and departmental weapons together with Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and, at the same time, to verify and improve the coordination procedures.
Besides the activity in focus, the exercise included the implementation of special procedures such as the Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) also involving ITALAIR, the United Nations air component in Lebanon composed of pilots and helicopters of the Italian Armed Forces.
The "Blue Phoenix", carried out in the ambit of the Joint Task Force - Lebanon Sector West (JTF-L SW), tested the command posts of the twelve contingents employed by Brigadier General Francesco Olla, commander of the western sector of UNIFIL, in the implementation of the procedures contemplated in the contingency plans of the mission.
The Italian blue helmets took part in both exercises with the command of the JTF-L, based on the brigade “Granatieri di Sardegna”, as well as the assets of the Task Force maneuver "ITALBATT" and unit in the Sector Reserve (Sector Mobile Reserve - SMR), both based on the "Lancieri di Montebello" Regiment (8 °).
The training activities are aimed at maintaining the high efficiency of the units and the "Command and Control" procedures in a multinational context, as well as identifying the best practice on the gaps that are identified during exercise.
