The Diplomat in Spain

Spanish ‘blue helmets’ in Miguel de Cervantes base./ Foto: MoD

The Diplomat. 21/07/2018

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, met yesterday in La Moncloa with the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Saad Hariri. Both leaders analyzed the bilateral relations as well as the situation in the Middle East, particularly Syria, while Sánchez reiterated to Hariri Spain’s commitment to the mission that the United Nations has deployed in Lebanon.

A contribution and an effort for which Prime Minister Hariri showed his «profound» gratitude and that of the Lebanese people, according to the Moncloa in a statement. The Spanish contribution to the United Nations Interim Force for Lebanon (UNIFIL) dates back to 2006, in compliance with Resolution 1701 that was approved in August of that year by the UN Security Council to supervise the cessation of hostilities between Israel and the Hezbollah militias, which operated from Lebanon.

Since that date, about 23,700 Spanish soldiers have participated. During these twelve years, the Spanish military has carried out 155,000 patrols, traveled more than 20 million kilometers and deactivated 4,424 mines in more than 1,423 demining missions, cleaning an area of ​​more than 457,000 square meters.

In addition, more than 20,000 civilians have been assisted and 695 infrastructure improvement projects have been launched. At present, the Spanish contingent is composed of 610 troops, of which 17 operate from the Headquarters of the UNIFIL in Naquora and 593 are deployed in the East Sector. They also have 14 interpreters. In June of this year, the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, visited the Spanish troops deployed in Lebanon.