Spain mulls boosting number of UNIFIL troops
Spain was considering sending 200 more soldiers to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), raising the country’s total force there to 1,100, the country’s Defense Ministry said on Sunday.
This plan requires permission from the United Nations and Spain’s legislature. UNIFIL is currently headed by Italian Force Commander and employs 12,000 soldiers and 1,000 civilians. Spanish general Alberto Asarta is likely to take over command of the force soon.
In consequence, as widely expected, Spain will take over responsibility for transport, logistics and intelligence from Italy.
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero will meet Spanish officers in southern Lebanon on Friday during his first visit to the Middle East.