In the spirit of the ongoing UNIFIL support to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), the UN mission’s Republic of Korea Battalion (ROKBATT) handed over 10 Barracuda armored personnel carriers (APCs) to the LAF’s South Litani Sector (SLS) yesterday.

At a ceremony in the LAF’s Benwa Barakat Barracks in Tyre, south Lebanon, ROKBATT Commander Colonel Moon Dong-Su handed over the German-made high-tech vehicles to the LAF SLS Commander, Brigadier General Maroun Al-Qobayati.

ROKBATT Master Sergeant Yoon Doo Hyeon, who was responsible for the maintenance of the APCs, confirmed that the vehicles are in the “best condition for 100 per cent mission performance.”

Brig. Gen. Al- Qobayati, representing LAF Commander General Joseph Aoun, expressed appreciation for the support, stating that it further contributes to maintaining security and stability in southern Lebanon.

Colonel Moon said: “I hope that our assistance will contribute to peace and prosperity in Lebanon.”

Since the deployment of ROKBATT to UNIFIL in 2007, it has extended a wide range of support to local communities and Government institutions in southern Lebanon. In total, it has funded or implemented roughly 280 civil-military cooperation projects.

The latest Korean donation to UNIFIL’s strategic partners is the continuation of various support coming from the UN mission’s contingents. Earlier this month, the LAF barracks in Tyre received vital medical supplies from the UNIFIL Sector West Command.