Eduardo González
The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, and the Chief of the Defense Staff, Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón, held a video conference yesterday with the Spanish contingent in Lebanon to learn about the status of the UN mission led by Spain. in the context of the Israeli military operation in Gaza.
According to the Ministry, the minister spoke with Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro, head of the UNIFIL mission, at the Naqura headquarters, who indicated that, given “the tense and unpredictable situation in the area,” the priority of the mission is the safety of the ‘blue helmets’ and “we dedicate our main efforts to this.”
The latest clashes in the conflict between Israel and Hamas have caused the displacement of populations near the border between Lebanon and Israel, where the five kilometers strip (called ‘blue line’) is located that is monitored by the UN contingent to avoid hostilities. between the two countries.
In this regard, the head of the Lebanon Brigade and in command of the Eastern sector of UNIFIL, Brigadier General Pablo Gómez Lera, reported from the ‘Miguel de Cervantes’ base in Marjayoun that his troops have largely continued their activities, “particularly the direct surveillance of the ‘blue line’” and those that affect the field of emergencies and care for the population.
The general also assured that the local population continues to show its gratitude to the ‘blue helmets’, and in particular “to the role of the Spanish contingents throughout these 17 years in the sector, always highlighting the great humanity demonstrated by our soldiers.” “We face these days with good spirits, full of hope and ready to celebrate with the military family that we are another different Christmas at the service of Spain, peace and security, from this beautiful Lebanese land,” concluded the head of the Spanish contingent.
The XI ‘Extremadura’ Brigade, the unit from which this contingent is generated, took command of the ‘Libre Hidalgo’ operation in the Eastern Sector of UNIFIL in November. This unit leads the Multinational Brigade East of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL/UNIFIL) in the area of operations, made up of approximately 3,500 troops of eight different nationalities. For his part, Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro commands more than 10,500 ‘blue helmets’ from 40 countries that are part of UNIFIL.
For her part, the Minister of Defense reiterated her gratitude to the Spanish military “in these difficult times” due to the conflict in Gaza and stated that “it is a satisfaction to know that, thanks to them, their professionalism and generosity, they are helping peace in a very complicated and difficult area.” Robles wished them “to celebrate Christmas in the best possible way.”
