8th Libre Hidalgo

The 7th Light Infantry Brigade “Galicia” (known as BRILAT VII), with base in Galicia and Asturias, has relieved the 9th Group “Libre Hidalgo”, made up of members from the 12th Armoured Brigade “Guadarrama”. BRILAT VII is accompanied by personnel from the 61st Logistic Support Group, with headquarters in Valladolid; the 8th Light Armoured Cavalry Regiment “Lusitania”, from Valencia; and other units with a lesser degree of participation. All in all, the contingent is composed of 1,100 soldiers.

The handover began on 11 Abril 2009, when five separate groups were sent from Spain to the Spanish base “Miguel de Cervantes” near the town of Marjayoun. The new 8th Multinational Brigade “Libre Hidalgo” (BRILIB VIII), commanded by General José Mª Prieto Martínez, assumed control of UNIFIL Sector East on 17 August 2009.

The bulk of the contingent for operation “Libre Hidalgo” VIII comes from BRILAT VII, which provides most of its 1,100 Spanish soldiers. In addition to the Spaniards, the Multinational Brigade Sector East (MNB SECEAST) will include troops from India, Indonesia and Nepal. The four national units within the Brigade will each be deployed in an area of responsibility along the Blue Line, the unofficial border between Lebanon and Israel.

The Spanish Light Protected Tactical Battalion is backed by a unit from the Salvadorian Army which was trained and prepared alongside BRILAT VII. In addition, MNB SECEAST counts with a protection force from Malaysia and a field hospital from the People's Republic of China. As a multinational unit, its HQ includes personnel from all the aforementioned countries. Altogether MNB SECEAST has over 4,000 troops led by Spain and deployed in the eastern sector of the UNIFIL area, 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 to extend their control south of the Litani River and favouring the supply of humanitarian aid to the civilian population.

BRILIB VIII is stationed at the “Miguel de Cervantes” base near Marjayoun and positioned at different points along the Blue Line.