Spanish Blue Helmets from BRILIB XLIII rehabilitate key routes to improve mobility and security in Lebanon

• They have cleared the road connecting the towns of Kafer Kela and El Adeisse in order to improve access to essential services

Spanish soldiers from the 43rd Lebanon Brigade (BRILIB XLII) of UNIFIL’s Sector East are rehabilitating routes to facilitate the safe return of forced displaced populations by removing blockades and repairing affected roads.

More concretely, they have recently cleared the XB1 road, a strategic route connecting the towns of Kafer Kela and El Adeisse. This activity makes an improvement in terms of mobility and access to basic services for the population in the south of the country, which has been severely damaged following recent clashes in the region.

Spanish sappers from the 16th ‘Canarias’ Brigade, which is part of the UNIFIL’s Sector East Engineering Unit, are taking part in these operations, together with logistics personnel specialising in recovery and healthcare, who have the necessary abilities to maintain an operational and permanent link with the command. Therefore, it helps guaranteeing the safety and effectiveness of operations on the ground.

The Commander of UNIFIL’s Sector East, General Ricardo Esteban Cabrejos, recalls that ‘every road we clear, every obstacle we remove, is an opportunity for a family to return home, and for a community to regain its life. With this goal in mind, Spanish UNIFIL’s peacekeepers work with the conviction that peace is built step by step, while gaining awareness of the fact that our presence here is a bridge between the suffering of the past and the hope for a better future for southern Lebanon.’

In this context of cooperation and assistance, these actions reflect UNIFIL’s strong commitment to consolidating peace, security and development in southern Lebanon.

Spain in UNIFIL

The Spanish Armed Forces deployed to Lebanon in September 2006. The main body of the Spanish contingent is stationed at the ‘Miguel de Cervantes’ Base, near the town of Marjayoun, where the Spain-led headquarters of UNIFIL’s Sector East is located. Moreover, Spanish troops are present at UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura.

Nowadays, over 650 Spanish military personnel are deployed in UNIFIL, with the aim of ensuring compliance with United Nations Resolution 1701 (S/RES/1701/2006) where a very unstable security situation is encountered, despite the ceasefire agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon in November 2024. 

Spain’s participation in the United Nations mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is a fruit of the consolidation over the years as a firm demonstration of its commitment to peace, security and well-being in the region. In addition to its military duties, the Spanish contingent has developed numerous civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) activities, which have strengthened ties with the local population.