Lebanon, Unifil mission: the Sassari Brigade has taken the place of the Taurinense Alpine Troops

For the Brigata Sassari, which has been given the reins of the operation, this is the third mission in Lebanon after the six-month mandate of 2016 and 2020-21. Experiences that have allowed the "dimonios" to mature an in-depth knowledge of local culture and traditions, which will be strategic in the next six months, when the "Sassari" will also be replaced. Brigadier General Enrico Fontana, for the 'Taurinense', and Brigadier General Stefano Messina, for the 'Sassari', were present in Shama. Also present were the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Head of Mission and Force Commander of Unifil Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz and the local civil and military authorities.

The Italian contingent, which for the national aspects operates under the Inter-Forces Summit Operations Command (COVI), carried out Blue Line monitoring activities through personnel deployed at the two Italian-led forward bases, one above a large rise near the town of Shama and the other at Al- Mansouri, near the coast, the headquarters of the manoeuvre force, i.e. the actual operational arm of the Italian military contingent (ITALBATT).

The Blue Line is the demarcation line separating Lebanese and Israeli territory, defined by the United Nations in June 2000 following the final withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces, and still at the centre of disputes between the two countries. Italian soldiers patrol this line, autonomously or with the collaboration of the Lebanese Armed Forces, trained by the Italians, for example in overcoming obstacles with the use of ropes (a typical activity for Alpine troops).

The Italians are intervening to support the population: some 90,000 people have had to abandon their homes along the villages near the Blue Line. Medical assistance, medicines, and food are needed. The contingent has launched a series of support operations carried out precisely in favour of these segments of the population housed in the villages further north or in the city of Tyre, where the "Taurinense" has carried out medical examinations and distributed medicines and food in one of the schools housing numerous families.

Within the stabilisation process in the area, a prominent role is played by the Tripartite Forum. This is an opportunity for dialogue, developed after the 2006 war, between representatives of the Lebanese Armed Forces, representatives of the Israeli Armed Forces and the Unifil Force Commander. The meetings generally take place on a regular basis and are held in a UN position near the Ras Naqoura crossing on the Blue line, along the coastal road connecting the two countries.

In the absence of formal relations between Israel and Lebanon, and thus of a permanent ceasefire agreement - the ultimate aim of the UN resolution - tripartite meetings constitute the only effective instrument, to which the parties have adhered so far, to attempt to resolve delicate security issues, through mediation by Unifil representatives. The last meeting took place in September (thus before 7 October, the day of the simultaneous Hamas attack on Israeli towns and villages). After that date, Unifil's Force Commander met with the parties, but separately.