6th Libre Hidalgo

The 2nd Cavalry Brigade “Castillejos” (known as BRICAB), alongside the 41st Logistic Support Group, both from Zaragoza, and some other units with a lesser degree of participation, have relieved the 5th Brigade “Libre Hidalgo”, made up of troops from the Legion Brigade. All in all, the contingent is composed of around 1,100 soldiers.

The handover began on 4 August 2008, when five separate groups were sent from Spain to the Spanish base “Miguel de Cervantes”, near the town of Marjayoun. The new 6th Multinational Brigade “Libre Hidalgo”, commanded by General Juan Carlos Medina Fernández, assumed control of UNIFIL Sector East on 11 August 2008.

The bulk of the contingent for operation “Libre Hidalgo” VI (LH VI) comes from BRICAB, which provides 727 out of the 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.

LH VI is made up of nearly 1,100 troops: 339 commanding officers and 676 rank-and-file troops; 944 men and 123 women. As for their nationality, 925 are Spanish and 137, foreigners – 80% of them from Ecuador and Colombia.

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, it has over 4,000 troops.

MNB SECEAST is 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 posted 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.

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