2023-11-24 23:31:19
In Lebanon, on the border with Israel, there are just over 600 Spanish soldiers as part of the United Nations mission (UNIFIL) in the south of the country. After six months deployed to the area, the current contingent – made up mainly of the VI ‘Almogávares’ Brigade of Parachutists – has to take over. These days, most of them have already returned to Spain on different flights while those who replace them are already on their way.
The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, traveled today to the Talavera la Real base, in Badajoz, to say goodbye to the last to leave. 90 soldiers: 61 from the Extremadura Brigade, and the remaining 29 from Madrid. They will remain in Lebanon for the next six months.
After a visit to the base, the minister held a meeting with the troops, both in the boarding area and on the plane with which they were leaving, around 5:30 p.m., for the Middle East. “All of Spain is proud of you, you are going to a difficult place but also with a very important United Nations mission,” said the Defense Minister. “Despite the fact that we are experiencing difficult times for peace, all of Spain has confidence in the training and professionalism of the Spanish military,” she says.
The new soldiers arrive in the area at a difficult time. Following the Hamas attacks and Israel’s response in Gaza, tension on the border with Lebanon has also escalated. Security has been tightened in the area so they will have to remain sheltered in bunkers for many days. When they have to patrol, they will have to do so in armored vehicles, since travel on foot has been limited.
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