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UN mission donates vehicles to Lebanese military

UN mission donates vehicles to Lebanese military

UNIFIL Force Commander Major-General Alberto Asarta Cuevas
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) today handed 39 vehicles to the Lebanese armed forces in an effort to boost their capacity to improve security in the south of the country.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) today handed 39 vehicles to the Lebanese armed forces in an effort to boost their capacity to improve security in the south of the country.

Today’s delivery of the vehicles to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) at a ceremony at UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura follows the donation of 24 cars in April.

UNIFIL Force Commander Major-General Alberto Asarta Cuevas stressed that conditions on the ground have significantly improved and that cooperation between UNIFIL and LAF has become a “central cornerstone in the implementation of our mandated tasks.”

“Our activities could not be implemented without the cooperation of the Lebanese Army, which has demonstrated – time and again – its professionalism and commitment to UN Security Council resolution 1701 working in close partnership with UNIFIL troops,” Maj-Gen Asarta said at the ceremony, which was also attended by Brigadier-General Louis Hanna and Brigadier-General Khalil Msan, LAF commanders in the south Litani area.

“Ultimately, UNIFIL’s exit strategy is linked to the ability of the Lebanese Army to sustainably ensure stability in southern Lebanon,” Maj-Gen. Asarta added.

Brig-Gen Hanna relayed LAF Commander General Jean Kahwaji’s “deepest feelings of gratitude and appreciation” to the UNIFIL command donation, which he said is “a clear expression of the ties of cooperation and coordination” between UNIFIL and LAF.