UNIFIL’s western sector command recently organized a multinational training activity to test the command and control capacity of various UNIFIL units operating in south-western Lebanon.

During the 8 September training exercise, more than 200 peacekeepers, 45 armoured vehicles and four forward command posts were deployed in the uninhabited areas within UNIFIL area of operation.

Besides the participation of peacekeepers from three key troop-contributing countries, Italy, France and Ghana, UNIFIL’s Crowd and Riot Control (CRC) units and specialized engineering teams also took part in the exercise.

Officers and members of the Tactical Operations Centre of the UNIFIL Sector West Command supervised the exercise in order to ensure interoperability, coordination and cooperation between all the participating UNIFIL units.

The Italian contingent’s initiative is part of its joint activities and training to enable officers and elements of UNIFIL units to properly handle and implement the intervention procedures in the UN Mission’s area of operations in south Lebanon.

UNIFIL’s Sector West is currently under the command of the Italian brigade, "Granatieri di Sardegna," and its commander Brigadier General Francesco Olla.

After the exercise, Brig. Gen. Olla hailed the “excellent performance and skill” displayed by the officers and soldiers from several countries participating in the training exercise. that praised the fruitful cooperation between all UNIFIL officers and soldiers under his command. He also expressed his satisfaction with the results achieved, which highlighted the excellent level and skill displayed by the officers and soldiers from several countries to participate in the mission of UNIFIL.