13th Libre Hidalgo

BRILIB XII, made up of members from the 2nd Cavalry Brigade “Castillejos”, has been relieved by a new, 1,040-strong contingent made up of the 10th Mechanised Infantry Brigade “Guzmán el Bueno” (known as BRIMZ X), based in Cordoba. The latter is backed by members of the 21st Logistic Support Group, based in Seville, a unit of the Navy Battalion from San Fernando (Cádiz), and personnel from other Army units and the Civil Guard.

The operation started on 9 December 2010 when four separate groups travelled to the base “Miguel de Cervantes” near the town of Marjayoun. The new 13th Multinational Brigade “Líbano” (BRILIB XIII), headed by General Teodoro Baños Alonso, assumed command of the Multinational Brigade Sector East (MNB SECEAST) of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on 14th December 2010.

The bulk of the contingent for operation “Libre Hidalgo” XIII (BRILIB XIII) comes from BRIMZ X, which provides most of the 1,040 Spanish soldiers. For the first time, logistic support will be provided by the 10th Logistic Support Group, which is an fundamental section within BRIMZ X, and backed by the 21st Logistic Support Group. In addition to the Spaniards, MNB SECEAST incorporates troops from India, Indonesia and Nepal. Like the Spanish Task Force, they will take over responsibility for a stretch of the Blue Line, the unofficial border between Lebanon and Israel.

The Spanish Light Protected Tactical Battalion will continue to be backed by a unit from the Salvadorian Army, presently in the area of operations. Furthermore, MNB SECEAST has a field hospital from the Popular Republic of China. In effect, this multinational unit hosts in its HQ personnel from the aforementioned countries as well as from Malaysia, Serbia and Brunei; all in all, nearly 4,400 troops.

MNB SECEAST, led by Spain, is deployed in the eastern sector of the area policed by UNIFIL, i.e. the territory between the Litani River in the north, the Blue Line in the south, the Italian-led western sector in the west and the Israeli-occupied Syrian territory in the east. The different brigades are spread over the territory under the responsibility of UNIFIL, in whose headquarters at Naqoura there are also Spanish personnel.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) acts under a UN mandate according to Security Council Resolution 1701 and has as its main tasks ensuring the observance of the cessation of hostilities, supporting and assisting the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Lebanese government to extend their control south of the Litani River and favouring the supply of humanitarian aid to the civilian population. BRILIB XIII is stationed at the “Miguel de Cervantes” base near Marjayoun and positioned at different points along the Blue Line.