This year, Spain celebrates two decades of uninterrupted participation in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), one of the most significant international missions in which the Spanish Armed Forces have been involved.
Since its inception in September 2006, under Operation Libre Hidalgo, the Spanish contingent has played a crucial role in the stability of southern Lebanon, following the mandate of the UN Security Council that approved Resolution 1701.
Currently, almost 700 Spanish soldiers are deployed at the Miguel de Cervantes Base, leading the Eastern Sector of UNIFIL. The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, has begun a visit to Lebanon to acknowledge the work of these personnel, who carry out patrols and surveillance activities along the Blue Line, in close collaboration with the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Robles emphasized that “20 years after their arrival in Lebanon, Spanish soldiers continue to contribute, under the United Nations flag, to a mission whose fundamental objective remains valid: to promote peace, security, and stability in the south of the country.” This commitment highlights the multinational approach of UNIFIL, where soldiers from various nations, such as India, Nepal, and Indonesia, operate together in favor of peace.