The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reiterated his support for the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon after the death of Irish soldier Sean Rooney, who was killed after his convoy came under fire on December 14, 2022.
During his visit, Sánchez visited his country's UNIFIL troops at the "Miguel de Cervantes base."
After being honored with a military parade, he visited the base's facilities, where members of the unit briefed him on their missions and duties. He concluded his visit with a meeting with officials from the Spanish contingent before returning to Beirut.
After meeting with the Lebanese Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, the Spanish Prime Minister stressed his country's keenness to support UNIFIL's work in southern Lebanon, noting that the Spanish contingent is the largest participating division since 2006.
He noted that Lebanon receives displaced Syrians "despite the crises it suffers from," pointing out that Spain "understands Lebanon's keenness on the voluntary return of these people to their country."
Notably, the Spanish Armed Forces deployed for the first time in southern Lebanon, at the United Nations Interim Mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in September 2006, in compliance with resolution 1701, approved by the United Nations Security Council, whose primary objective is to ensure a cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel, support the Lebanese Armed Forces in extending its authority in the area, as well as provide support to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches the population.
The Multinational Brigade in Sector East, led by Spain, includes some 3,500 troops from 9 different nationalities, including Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador, Spain, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, and Serbia.
Spain also contributes about 600 military personnel, mainly from the commando regiment of the "BRILIB XXXVIII" battalion.