Spanish peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL received United Nations medals on 29 March for their service with the Mission in furthering peace in south Lebanon.

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col chaired a medal ceremony at the “Miguel de Cervantes” base in Marjayoun.

A total of 616 peacekeepers from the BRILIB unit of the Spanish Army, under the overall command of UNIFIL’s Sector East Commander Brigadier General Antonio Romero Losada, have been serving with the UN Mission for a six-month tour since November 2018. The BRILIB also has members from the Brazilian, Salvadoran and Serbian militaries.

Awarding the medals, Major General Del Col said it was a “sign of appreciation” for their “integral contribution” to the UNIFIL mission to maintain stability and peace in the area of their responsibility.

“I would like to thank and congratulate all of the personnel on parade: with your professionalism and dedication, you are an example of how motivated, disciplined and prepared soldiers, can achieve anything,” said the UNIFIL head. “The multinational brigade Sector East works in a sensitive area, carrying out tasks such as the monitoring of the ongoing T-wall construction works, manning of positions, observation posts as well as patrols in delicate areas such as along Wazzani Resorts and Ghajar.”

The ceremony was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the Lebanese Armed Forces, Members of Lebanese Parliament, local and religious leaders and fellow peacekeepers.