The first eighty will return to Sardinia today. The others, over one thousand one hundred, will arrive in the next few days: after six months, the Unifil mission of the Sassari Brigade in Lebanon ended yesterday.
The baton was passed in the role of commander of the Joint Task Force-Lebanon Sector West between Major General Stefano Messina, outgoing head of the Sassari, and Brigadier General Nicola Mandolesi, taking over as commander of the Pozzuolo del Friuli Brigade.
"A significant moment that represents, concretely and ideally, the continuity of Italy's commitment in Lebanon," said Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, "an important contribution to regional stability that Italian personnel offer every day, with a spirit of self-denial, in a complex operational theater. The Middle East is where our Armed Forces are playing a fundamental role."
The stay of the Sassari Brigade in Lebanon, which began on August 2, was not easy: on November 22, four Sardinian soldiers were slightly injured during a missile launch during a clash between Israeli soldiers and territorial militias.
General Luciano Portolano, Chief of the Defence Staff,
In addressing the men and women of the Western sector of Unifil he expressed "deep gratitude and recognition for the results achieved in the field and underlined, with pride, that the great professionalism, the deep balance and the absolute impartiality between the parties, combined with the sensitivity towards the population always shown even in the most difficult moments, are the identity card of the Italian Armed Forces"
General Lázaro, Head of Mission and Commander of UNIFIL, expressed feelings of deep esteem and admiration towards the soldiers of the Italian contingent: "In these six months you have faced numerous challenges and risks with unwavering dedication", he said. "Thanks to the adoption of preventive measures and a constant commitment to the safety and protection of UN personnel and bases, you have ensured the success of the UNIFIL mission. In an ever-changing context, you have demonstrated an extraordinary capacity for adaptation, reflecting a high level of professionalism in every phase of the mission. Thanks to your efforts, the mission was completed, leaving a lasting impact on peace and stability in southern Lebanon".
In his speech, General Messina took stock of the six months of his mandate, marked by the offensive launched at the end of August by the Israeli Defense Forces to prevent attacks by Hezbollah militias, by the large-scale conflict that threatened the stability of the entire region and by the ceasefire that came into force at the end of November, to allow civilians on both sides of the "blue line" to return safely to their lands and homes. "During this difficult period, the Italian and Western sector UN peacekeepers remained steadfast in their positions, showing unwavering dedication and an iron will to respect the mandate of UN Security Council Resolution 1701," General Messina stressed, "All together, no one excluded, we faced the consequences of the direct attacks on our bases, which resulted in the injury of numerous peacekeepers. But we never backed down. Our response has been firm and unequivocal, always guided by the fundamental principle of operating with impartiality and transparency, in full compliance with the mandate entrusted to us by the international community. Our mission,” he added, “has never been to choose sides, but to be a force for peace at the service of Lebanon’s stability.”
General Messina also recalled the ongoing commitment of the Italian contingent in monitoring the ceasefire, in cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces to ensure the security and stability of the area and in supporting the local population, with targeted civil-military cooperation interventions, especially in favor of displaced persons in the border areas of southern Lebanon. "Despite the roar of war," Messina concluded, "the flag of the United Nations has continued to fly with pride and determination, a symbol of hope for all those who believe that peace in Lebanon is always possible."
(Unioneonline/E.Fr.)