UNIFIL’s Italian Paratroppers “Folgore” Brigade trained last week with 16 officers from the Lebanese General Directorate of State Security (GDSS) in precision shooting over long distances. 

The “sharpshooter skills” course, held in the UN Mission’s Sector West Headquarters in Shama from 15 to 19 January 2018, was the first such joint activity of UNIFIL’s Sector West Command with GDSS officers. 

The GDSS officers were given both theoretical and practical lessons focusing on observation and estimation of distances, identification and indication of targets, zeroing in of the weapons and shooting techniques. While the theoretical classes took place in Shama, the practical activities were conducted in the firing range of Naqoura.

The course also offered the opportunity for positive interaction between the Lebanese security officers and UNIFIL’s Italian peacekeepers.

Established in the early 1990s, GDSS is Lebanon’s elite security body, headed by the President, with the mission to prevent the State from internal and external jeopardy.