BEIRUT, Jun 12 (NNN-NNA) – The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and the Lebanese Armed Forces, concluded yesterday, a five-day live firing exercise near the UNIFIL’s headquarters, in the southern city of Naqoura, according to a statement by UNIFIL.
The Steel Storm drill, led by UNIFIL’s Force Commander’s Reserve, and conducted between the two forces twice a year, involved armoured assets, machine guns and small arms live fire, the statement said.
The UNIFIL peacekeepers from Finland, France, Ghana, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Poland, Ireland, Italy, India, Indonesia, Nepal and Spain joined the exercise.
Under Security Council Resolution 1701, the UN mission supports the Lebanese Armed Forces, in providing security and stability in southern Lebanon, through coordinated activities such as drills and other ways.
“Coordinated activities help build capacity and help the Lebanese Armed Forces and UNIFIL better work together to maintain security in the south,” the UNIFIL statement explained.
In 2020 alone, 1,070 coordinated activities, including exercises, training programmes and workshops, were carried out both on land and at sea, according to the statement.