The Diplomat
The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, yesterday demanded an “immediate ceasefire” and the end of hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah and assured that the Spanish armed forces will continue in Lebanon as long as the UN peacekeeping mission remains.
“We are going to continue firmly betting on peace in such a complicated world, in such a difficult world, the situation in Lebanon is very worrying,” Robles declared during an ceremony to present decorations to 17 members of the BRILIB XL contingent for their participation in the operation ‘Libre Hidalgo’, in Lebanon, in recent months. ”We hope there is a call for responsibility from the leaders of the area, it is essential that there be an immediate ceasefire,” she added.
At the ceremony, held at the facilities of the XI ‘Extremadura’ Brigade, in Bótoa, Badajoz, Minister Robles recognized the contingent as “an example of courage, heroism and commitment to peace,” and thanked them for their work with “will, prudence and sense of responsibility.” Likewise, she assured that, as long as the United Nations remains committed to peace in Lebanon, the Spanish Armed Forces will continue in that country, as they have done since 2006.
The XI ‘Extremadura’ Brigade was designated as the base generating unit of the BRILIB XL contingent and its personnel led the Eastern Multinational Brigade in Lebanon, in the framework of the United Nations mission (UNIFIL) in the south of the country, from November 24, 2023 to May 24 of this year.
During that period, the brigade provided around 500 men and women, whose tasks included carrying out patrols to monitor the separation line between Lebanon and Israel, who have worked in a complicated security environment due to the increase in instability in the area due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which began in October 2023.
During the visit, Minister Robles also held a meeting with 29 Ukrainian combatants who are receiving a vehicle maintenance training module, and she reiterated her “firm commitment” to Ukraine. More than 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers have already received training in Spain.
