3rd Libre Hidalgo

The new contingent of Spanish forces in Lebanon comes mainly from the 29th Airborne Light Infantry Regiment “Isabel la Católica”, with base in Figueirido (Pontevedra), and the 3rd Airborne Light Infantry Regiment “El Príncipe” (Siero, Asturias); both units belong to the 7th Airborne Light Infantry Brigade “Galicia”, known as BRILAT. The contingent also includes members of the 61st Logistic Support Group (Valladolid); the 8th Armoured Light Cavalry Regiment “Lusitania” (Valencia); and other units, to a lesser degree. All in all, it is composed of 1,100 soldiers.

These units have relieved the 6th Light Infantry Parachute Brigade “Almogávares”, which began its redeployment to Madrid on 9 July 2007 and completed it on 17 July. The handover took place on 13 July with an administrative TOA (Transfer of Authority) to General José María Prieto Martínez, commander of the Airborne Light Infantry Brigade. The Spanish-led Multinational Brigade is now under his command.

The Spanish soldiers deployed between the Israeli border and the Litani River are stationed at the Spanish base “Miguel de Cervantes”, which is in the municipal district of Blat near the village of Marjayoun. The base is the headquarters of UNIFIL Multinational Brigade Sector East, which also includes units from Nepal, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland and China.