UNIFIL’s Italian and Finnish peacekeepers conducted a joint training last week with the aim of enhancing interoperability, reactivity and flexibility during joint operations while serving for peace in south Lebanon.
From 6 to 10 January, UNIFIL Sector West’s Mobile Reserve composed of Italian Army units trained with Finnish Army units of Force Commander’s Reserve during Familiarization of Deployment (FAMDEP) exercise in various locations in south-western Lebanon.
FAMDEP is a joint exercise programme between two UNIFIL contingents, where usually one sends a small group to the other’s base or the area of responsibility for a few days, during which both sides conduct various operational activities jointly.
Among the activities they conducted included joint patrols, joint live firing exercise, joint casualty evacuation, joint counter riot exercise and equipment display.
UNIFIL currently has more than 10,300 peacekeepers from 45 different countries serving for peace in south Lebanon and at sea. Many of these troops regularly carry out operational activities jointly with peacekeepers from different nationalities in a truly multinational environment.
Photos: Medhat Balel / UNIFIL Sector West