The Dimonios take up service in Lebanon. It took place today at the "Millevoi" base in Shama, in the presence of the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Head of Mission and Force Commander of Unifil Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz and the civil and military authorities local, the ceremony of turnover in command of the Joint Task Force-Lebanon Sector West (JTF-L SW), Unifil's operational component in the Western sector of the area of operations, between Brigadier General Enrico Fontana and Brigadier General Stefano Messina .

For the "Sassari" Brigade , this is the third mission in Lebanon after the six-month mandate of 2016 and 2020-21, where the "Dimonios" have gained an in-depth knowledge of local culture and traditions.

Italy leads the JTF-L SW made up of over 3,500 "blue helmets" from 17 of the 49 nations participating in the mission. The Italian contribution in Southern Lebanon exceeds 1,100 units, of the over 10,000 total of Unifil.

During his speech, General Fontana recalled that «the Taurinese has faced its mandate with professionalism and compactness in a complex and difficult environment where, since last February, despite the escalation and tensions, the Italian contingent has continued its its activities by adopting procedures useful for guaranteeing the safety of peacekeepers, keeping the number of operational activities in the area high and constant and intensifying support to the population, the LAF and local authorities".

Words of appreciation came from the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, who thanked the Italian contingent for the extraordinary professionalism demonstrated, which allowed, even in a tense and very critical period like the one experienced in recent months, to pursue its objectives along the Blue Line, in full compliance with 1701, also focusing attention on supporting the weakest sections of the population.

(Unioneonline)