7th Libre Hidalgo

The 12th Armoured Brigade “Guadarrama” (known as BRIAC XII) and the 11th Logistic Support Group, both from Madrid, together with the 4th Manoeuvre Helicopter Battalion, from Tenerife, and the 9th Light Armoured Cavalry Regiment “Numancia”, from Zaragoza, have relieved the 2nd Cavalry Brigade “Castillejos”, which made up the 6th Brigade “Libre Hidalgo”. All in all, the contingent is composed of 1,100 soldiers. The handover began on 11 December 2008 when five separate groups were sent from Spain to the Spanish base “Miguel de Cervantes”, near the town of Marjayoun.

The new 7th Multinational Brigade “Libre Hidalgo” (BRILIB VII), commanded by General Alberto Asarta Cuevas, assumed control of UNIFIL Sector East on 15 December 2008. The bulk of the contingent for operation “Libre Hidalgo” VII comes from BRIAC XII, 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 Polish company and a 52-strong unit from the Salvadorian Army. 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, currently under the command of Italian Divisional General Claudio Graciano; there are also Spanish personnel at its Naqoura HQ. 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 VII is stationed at the “Miguel de Cervantes” base near Marjayoun and positioned at different points along the Blue Line.