For Free Distribution Not For Sale February 2018 - no.21 UNIFIL magazine Lebanese Army Mohammad Zaatari Mohammad Photo/ Securing Zeina Ezzeddine the Cover design/ South Investing in the Lebanese Photo/Mohammad Zaatari Armed Forces is investing in the stability of Lebanon. UN Secretary-General António Guterres Editorial A tribute to the Lebanese Army Message from the Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Michael Beary UN Photo/Pasqual G. Marcos UN Photo/Pasqual G. ‘The Lebanese Army - Securing the South’ is the working relationship. We will look back through the central theme chosen for the first edition of “Al-Janoub” eyes of the Lebanese Army on their work together with in 2018. As UNIFIL approaches 40 years in March UNIFIL peacekeepers from 40 different countries. We will this is, perhaps, an appropriate way to start the new get some insight into what the LAF deployment means year; by looking at the ongoing development of the to members of the community here in this part of south Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). It is an opportunity to Lebanon and finally we will see how UNIFIL’s support showcase some of the crucial work that takes place to the LAF aids the Government of Lebanon and the in the Area of Operations (AO), involving UNIFIL and extension of state authority in the South, which in turn our LAF colleagues and strategic partners operating in promotes stability throughout Lebanon as a whole. close coordination with one another. Since I assumed my role of Head of Mission and Force Following the cessation of hostilities in 2006 the LAF Commander of UNIFIL I have been continually impressed deployed to the UNIFIL AO, after a 30-year absence. with the professional military approach adopted by the UNIFIL, in accordance with its mandate under UN Security LAF. From the critical operations they have conducted in Council Resolution 1701, has supported this deployment the north and east of Lebanon, in securing their sovereign and has watched as the LAF have steadily increased borders, to the patrolling and counter rocket launching their capability and their footprint in the AO. Through the operations they conduct on a daily basis in the south conduct of joint training UNIFIL assists the LAF in achieving with UNIFIL, the LAF have demonstrated their military full operational capability, so that ultimately the LAF, as capability. It is my wish to see them continue to develop the physical manifestation of Government authority in this capability, and to increase their numbers in SLS so the South, can assume full responsibility for the AO from that ultimately UNIFIL can hand over responsibility for UNIFIL. It has been particularly pleasing to me to see how the AO to the sovereign armed forces of the State of the local communities have embraced this deployment, Lebanon, allowing UNIFIL to close the chapter on its to see how the LAF are becoming part of the fabric of presence here for the last 39 years. society here, and how they are now seen as a provider of security for the local population. I thank the editorial staff for their work on this edition and I look forward to continuing to engage with you all in the This issue will explore the joint history of the LAF and coming months. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity UNIFIL, working together in pursuit of the goals in UNSCR to wish all of our readers and all of our peacekeepers here 1701. Readers will get to hear the views of the South in UNIFIL a peaceful and happy new year. Litani Sector (SLS) Commander, Brigadier General Robert Al Alam, with whom I enjoy a cordial and professional Editorial: A tribute to the Lebanese Army 3 Message from the Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Michael Beary Chronicle 5 South Litani Sector securing the south 6 | 7 ‘Al-Janoub’ is published by UNIFIL Office of Strategic Communications and Public Information LAF will assume UNIFIL tasks 8 | 9 Brig. Gen. Al-Alam Publisher Mohammad Zaatar Imran Riza Pasqual Gorriz Marcos UNIFIL FCR PIO Editor-in-Chiefs Centre spread: | UNIFIL Sector East PIO 10 11 Malene Kamp Jensen UNIFIL Sector West PIO Looking back on 73 years Andrea Tenenti Infographic Senior Editor (English) Zeina Ezzeddine Tilak Pokharel Photo Editor LAF’s role in south Lebanon 12 |13 Editor (Arabic) Zeina Ezzeddine Joumana Sayegh Contributors Production/Design Dany Fouad Ghafary Zeina Ezzeddine Ewa Turyk-Mazurek Did you know? 14 Editorial Assistant Ghifar Charafeddine Italy Adib Al Moussa Hiba Monzer LAF’s South Litani Sector Photographers Commander Aoibheann O’Sullivan Maj. Leandro Giordano LAF Directorate of Orientation Rania Bdeir Training together 15 Ghifar Charafeddine Tilak Pokharel Al-Janoub contact What is the Blue Line? 16 Tel. +961 1 926 441 Email [email protected] +961 1 926 442 Fax +961 1 827 016 Except where identified by the copyright symbol ©, articles VOX POPULI 17 in “Al-Janoub” may be reprinted without permission on condition that two copies of the publication containing The Voices from the South the reprint are sent to the Editor-in-Chief of “Al-Janoub”. The logo ‘ ’ is a calligraphic representation of the BREAKING GROUND word “Al-Janoub” in Arabic. 18 UNIFIL & LAF partner around civil military cooperation Colour correction and printing: Raidy | www.raidy.com Disclaimer The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNIFIL concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city area or of its authorities, or concerning delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed do not necessarily represent the policies or positions of UNIFIL, nor does the citing of trade names or commercial processes constitute endorsement. Adnan Atieh (LIU Atieh Adnan student) Chronilcle UNIFIL’s first female contingent commander concludes Lebanon tour UNIFIL provides some $3 million in community which each individual played an important role.” support from troop contibuting countries Her deployment to UNIFIL was her first experience with a UN peacekeeping operation. In his praise for Maj. Raduha’s unit, UNIFIL’s Sector West Commander Brig. Gen. Rodolfo Sganga said she led her unit with enthusiasm, professionalism and competence. “As UNIFIL’s first female Contingent UN Photo/Sector West PIO West UN Photo/Sector Commander, Maj. Raduha acted UNIFIL’s first female contingent “Success did not come by itself. as a role model because of her commander, Maj. Nina Raduha Good skills, determination and leadership, skilfulness and of Slovenia, completed her seven- vision were needed,” she said. motivation,” he said. month long tour of duty with the “For all of this, it was necessary UN Mission on 2 December 2017. to have excellent and dedicated As one of 41 troop-contributing In her remarks at the transfer of soldiers, experienced NCOs countries of UNIFIL, Slovenia authority ceremony, Maj. Raduha (non-commissioned officers) currently has 15 peacekeepers said she and her unit was proud who know their business, and with the Mission. Of the Mission’s to have contributed to furthering officers with a vision. I had 10,500 peacekeepers, some 4.6 peace in South Lebanon. them all. We were a team in per cent are women. EU Ambassadors visit UNIFIL HQ and Blue Line Marcos UN Photo/Pasqual G. to maintain stability in the south UNIFIL’s Civil-Military of Lebanon. Cooperation (CIMIC) projects address some of the most The delegation included EU pressing needs of the host Delegation Ambassador to population and support local Lebanon, Christina Lassen, authorities while strengthening and Ambassadors and senior the links between UNIFIL and UN Photo/Pasqual G. Marcos UN Photo/Pasqual G. officials of Austria, Bulgaria, local communities. Be it fixing Cyprus, the Czech Republic, A European Union delegation, the increased collaboration with a road, providing medical, Finland, Germany, Italy, the comprising 15 Ambassadors a newly reinforced Lebanese dental or veterinary assistance, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and senior officials, visited the Armed Forces (LAF) in furthering educational courses or capacity- Slovakia, Spain and Sweden to UNIFIL Headquarters and the the implementation of UN building, these projects are their missions in Lebanon. Blue Line. Security Council resolutions leaving their imprint on the lives 1701 (2006) and 2373. UNIFIL Fifteen out of the EU’s 28 Member of people in southern Lebanon. UNIFIL officials briefed the officials also thanked them for States contribute a significant delegation on the Mission’s work their support for the work of number of the around 10,500 Since 1 January to 7 December in its area of operation, including UN peacekeepers in helping peacekeepers to UNIFIL. 2017, more than 220 such projects were completed within UNIFIL’s area of operation in UNIFIL and Lebanese Army conduct live firing exercise South Lebanon at the total cost of about $3 million. an area just south of UNIFIL HQ as strengthening the existing in Naqoura. The LAF, supported coordination mechanism between Most of the funding for these by UNIFIL’s Force Commander LAF and UNIFIL. The joint exercise projects are from troop Reserve Force, Sector West and is a good opportunity for both contributing countries, in addition Sector East, took part in the UNIFIL and LAF to further to other activities provided by exercise named “Steel Storm”. strengthen the cooperation UNIFIL to the communities, and mutual knowledge and including language courses UN Photo/FCR PIO Live fire exercises are conducted demonstrate the capability to and martial arts. In September 2017 and regularly between the LAF and conduct joint missions. February 2018, UNIFIL and the UNIFIL peacekeepers. They are The funding from these Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) directed at honing the skills and Limiting any potential disturbance countries is in addition to conducted joint live fire exercises expertise of the military units, to the local population was an some $500,000 a year from combining armoured assets, maintaining their efficiency utmost priority during the planning the UN for Quick Impact machine gun and small arms in and mutual knowledge as well for the exercises.