20th Libre Hidalgo

Marjayoun,  21.05.2014

Commander: Brigadier Francisco José Dacoba Cerviño

The 20th Brigade “Líbano” (BRILIB XX, by its Spanish acronym) has completed its deployment in the area of operations. The 11th Mechanised Infantry Brigade “Extremadura” (BRIMZ XI) leads the Spanish operation in Lebanon, “Libre Hidalgo”, for the fourth time. It is supported by personnel from the 61st Logistic Support Group (AALOG 61) and by different units from the Army, the Civil Guard and around fifty soldiers from the Salvadorian Army and a hundred more from Serbia. BRILIB is made up of 560 troops who for the next six months will be integrated into the Multinational Brigade Sector East (MNB SECEAST) of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

On 20 November 2013 BRILIB XX began its mission in Lebanon to ensure compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Its roughly 560 troops relieved the units and soldiers of BRILIB XIX at the base “Miguel de Cervantes” in the Marjayoun District, nearly 4,000 km away from Spain. In the Transfer of Authority ceremony BRILIB XX took over command of MNB SECEAST.

The whole UN operation in the eastern sector of the southern strip of Lebanon, from the Litani River to the Blue Line which separates the country from Israel, is controlled from the HQ of this Brigade. It is composed mainly of Spanish soldiers but also includes units from Indonesia, Nepal, India, Malaysia, El Salvador and Serbia. In all, around 4,000 soldiers in a truly multinational Brigade under UN command and led by Spain since 2006.

UNIFIL MNB SECEAST battalions perform key operational tasks under the command of the United Nations. Deployed in different positions within the Area of Responsibility of the Brigade, they carry out patrols and man permanent outposts to guarantee the observance of the cessation of hostilities and support and assist the Lebanese Armed Forces to control the area from the Litani River to the Blue Line, negotiated with Israel as the line of separation between the two countries but which does not still constitute an international border.

The Light Protected Tactical Battalion which constitutes the Spanish Battalion (SPANBATT) within the Multinational Brigade is composed of personnel from the 6th Mechanised Infantry Regiment “Saboya”. It also includes a section of the Salvadorian army and a Serbian company. The Light Armoured Section is made up of members from the 12th Light Armoured Cavalry Regiment “Farnesio”.

SPANBATT is deployed at sensitive points very close to the Blue Line and its task is crucial: On the security and stability of that area depends to a great extent the success of the mission and the pacification of this region of the Middle East.