Naqoura, Lebanon – UNIFIL Maritime Task Force (MTF) and the Lebanese Navy yesterday conducted a day-long combined exercise involving live-firing and other operational activities at sea. Seven vessels, including three from the Lebanese Navy, participated.

UNIFIL Force Commander Major-General Alberto Asarta Cuevas, accompanied by the Commander of the Lebanese Navy Rear-Admiral Nazih Baroudi and the UNIFIL-MTF Commander Rear-Admiral Luiz Henrique Caroli, observed the exercise on board German supply ship 'Mosel'.

"I was immensely impressed by the professionalism demonstrated during the exercise, in particular by the Lebanese Navy" Major-General Asarta said.

"I have noted the positive outcome of the exercise as further testimony to the excellent relations that have been established between the MTF and the Lebanese Navy since the MTF´s establishment in 2006, which remains the only maritime task force deployed within a United Nations peace operation".

UNIFIL-Maritime Task Force has been deployed at the request of the Lebanese Government with the dual mandate

to assist the Lebanese Navy in preventing the unauthorized entry of arms or related materiel by sea into Lebanon and to provide training to the Lebanese naval forces.

At the end of the combined activities, Major General Asarta emphasized the importance of continued close cooperation between UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces in operations and training alike, which remains the cornerstone of implementing Security Council resolution 1701 (2006).