Shama (Lebanon) - The Ambassador of Italy to Lebanon, Massimo Marotti, has visited the headquarters of the Italian contingent involved in the UNIFIL mission.The ambassador was welcomed at the Shama base, named after second lieutenant Andrea Millevoi, Gold Medal of Military Valor, by General Francesco Olla, commander of the Italian blue helmets.
Since April 27, 2017, they form the Joint Task Force - Lebanon with the "Leonte XXII" operation. The visit was an opportunity for the commander to discuss the current difficult situation in the Middle East with the highest Italian representative in the 'land of cedars', as well as the actions of the contingent, currently brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna", as part of the tasks assigned by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 of 2006.
During the meeting with the commander and senior officials at the base, Ambassador Marotti stressed that "over the years, the commitment of the Italian armed forces has been crucial and appreciated by the people. If Lebanon has begun working towards the future, it is also thanks to the one thousand soldiers who contributed by providing a much-needed sense of safety and stability. No one has done as much as the Italian military here, you have all played a part in this."
The men and women of the Italian armed forces have been acting as peacekeepers since 2006, with several main goals: constantly monitoring the 'Blue Line' to ensure the cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel; supporting the local population, by operating through the Civil-Military Co-operation (CIMIC); and supporting the Lebanese armed forces deployed south of the Litani River, by coordinating, planning and implementing joint training activities and operations.