22nd Libre Hidalgo

The 10th Mechanised Infantry Brigade “Guzmán el Bueno” (BRIMZ, by its Spanish acronym) started in November its fourth deployment as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

In the 20th anniversary of its first mission overseas – it deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1994 – “Guzmán el Bueno” trained 550 soldiers to join the multinational force assigned to the Eastern sector, in the area controlled by UNIFIL. General Antonio Ruiz, commander of the Cordoba-based unit, heads a contingent of 3,000 soldiers which includes personnel from Brazil, India, Indonesia, Malaysia (until December 2014), Nepal, El Salvador and Serbia.

Lieutenant General José M. González-Spinola, Public Information Officer of the contingent, explains that the work in Lebanon involves “foot and vehicle patrols, itinerary reconnaissance and protection of convoys and sensitive locations.” In order to fulfil their task the Spanish soldiers, who are used to Leopard tanks and Pizarro vehicles, have had to brush up their knowledge of the Lynxes.