Graziano During Maritime Drill: Lebanese Navy”s Participation is of Paramount Importance
United Nations peacekeepers have carried out maritime exercises off the Lebanese coast between Jiyyeh and Byblos in a bid to boost cooperation and coordination with the country”s navy, UNIFIL announced on Tuesday.
Three German units serving with UNIFIL”s Maritime Task Force took part in Monday”s drill with three naval units from the Lebanese navy, it said.
"The aim of this exercise is to improve cooperation and establish coordination mechanisms between the different naval forces involved," said UNIFIL Commander Major-General Claudio Graziano.
"The Lebanese navy”s participation in this exercise is of paramount importance in light of the future handover of the full responsibility of their territorial water," he added.
Rear Admiral Di Biase, Commander of the MTF, said: "This event represents an occasion to further consolidate cooperation at sea, in the perspective of Lebanese navy directly participating in the Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) and an opportunity to enhance the capability to work together, practicing common Standard Operating Procedures and reciprocal support at sea."
UNIFIL”s Maritime Task Force was deployed off the Lebanese coast in 2006 to curtail arms smuggling following the Israel-Hizbullah war, and has since hailed over 24,400 ships and referred more than 295 suspicious vessels to Lebanese authorities for further inspection.
Currently, the force comprises naval units from Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy and Turkey.