Commander of the 44th Lebanon Brigade: ‘The safety of our soldiers is our top priority’

• With just a few days to go before the rotation of the contingent deployed in Lebanon, General Antonio Ramón Bernal highlights ‘the commitment and dedication of the men and women of the Spanish contingent’, who have continued to carry out their daily mission despite the current difficult circumstances.

Since 2006, Spain has participated with around 600 military personnel in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Currently, the so-called 44th Lebanon Brigade (BRILIB) is mainly made up of personnel and units from the 12th ‘Guadarrama’ Brigade and is commanded by Major General Antonio Ramón Bernal Martín, who is also the head of UNIFIL’s Eastern Sector. The contingent has been deployed since November last year and will return home in the coming days.

What is your assessment of these six months of deployment?

The assessment is positive, although two very distinct phases can clearly be distinguished.

In the first phase, which lasted until the outbreak of hostilities on 2 March, the contingent was able to carry out its activities as normal, averaging around one hundred activities per day, including operational, logistical and civilian support tasks.

The second phase has been marked by a significant deterioration in the security situation. This context has forced us to scale back and adapt our activities, prioritising the protection of the force at all times.

Despite these difficulties, the contingent has managed to adapt with professionalism and discipline, fulfilling the mission to the extent that circumstances have allowed and carrying out excellent work during this period of deployment.

Have security measures and protocols been stepped up in recent months?

Yes, of course. We have implemented all the security measures envisaged for this type of scenario, gradually increasing them as the situation on the ground has evolved.

Within the bases, the alert level is continuously adjusted according to the assessed risk, with the safety of our soldiers always being the top priority. When the situation requires it, personal protective equipment, such as helmets and body armour, is used, and bunkers are utilised in accordance with established procedures.

During activities outside the bases, personnel always travel with personal protective equipment and in armoured vehicles. Furthermore, security measures on the routes are stepped up in order to prevent any potential threat and avoid taking unnecessary risks. All of this allows us to continue fulfilling the mission with the greatest possible safety.

Can the contingent carry out its usual work as normal?

The activities we had been carrying out up to that point have been significantly reduced. On the one hand, surveillance patrols along the Blue Line or those maintaining a presence in the area have been suspended. Nor is it possible to collaborate with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) on the disarmament of non-state actors, the search for uncontrolled arms or ammunition depots, or training activities. As they are in active conflict, the LAF have withdrawn from the area occupied by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and remain only in areas where the population remains.

On the other hand, the evacuation of the civilian population—which in most localities has been almost total—has meant that the usual civil-military activities have been transformed into tasks of support and protection for the civilian personnel remaining in the area.

Finally, the deterioration of road conditions and the threat of improvised explosive devices necessitate limiting both logistical and operational activities to the absolute minimum and exercising the utmost caution. All these decisions are always made with the safety of our personnel as the top priority and by constantly adapting to developments on the ground.

How is the relationship with the Lebanese Armed Forces?

The relationship with the LAF is ongoing and very smooth. We maintain constant contact with them, and all movements we carry out outside UNIFIL’s area of responsibility are always conducted in a combined manner.

Furthermore, we have LAF liaison officers integrated into the Eastern Sector Headquarters, which allows for constant and direct communication. This coordination is essential to ensure the safety of our activities and, in this way, to continue effectively fulfilling the mission entrusted to UNIFIL.

However, as I said before, due to the ongoing conflict, the LAF have abandoned many of their positions, withdrawing to areas where the IDF is not present and where the civilian population remains. This has significantly reduced our collaboration with them.

How would you describe the condition of the contingent members?

Our soldiers are well and continue to carry out their daily duties in good spirits and with the professionalism that characterises them right up to the last day of the mission. Spanish soldiers have a great ability to adapt to complex environments.

After more than five months deployed, I would like to highlight in particular the commitment and dedication of the men and women of the Spanish contingent, who continue to fulfil their daily mission despite the current difficult circumstances. Each one, in their respective roles — whether on patrols or carrying out logistical tasks — demonstrates a strong sense of duty and a great dedication to service. I could not be more proud of them.

What message do you have for the families and colleagues back in Spain?

Without a doubt, the main message I wish to convey is one of reassurance. Our presence in Lebanon stems from Spain’s firm commitment to United Nations Resolution 1701, the implementation and monitoring of which falls within the remit of the UNIFIL mission.

Despite the intensification of the conflict, the Spanish contingent continues to carry out its mission to the extent that the situation allows, always guided by a very clear principle: the safety of our soldiers is the top priority. Every decision taken is guided by this fundamental principle. And in this conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, we are not a target for either side.

I would like to thank the families and our colleagues in Spain for their constant support and trust. Our military personnel are prepared, committed and acting with the utmost professionalism.

Finally, what advice or guidelines would you give to your successor and the rest of the military personnel who will form the next Lebanon Brigade?

To my successor and to all the military personnel who will form the next BRILIB, I would say, above all, that they must always keep safety as the absolute priority. The environment is complex and ever-changing, and the ability to assess risks and act with prudence is essential to fulfilling the mission.

I would also recommend that they continue to strengthen coordination and communication, both within the contingent itself and with UNIFIL, and, most importantly, with the Lebanese Armed Forces, whose role is key on the ground.

I am convinced that the next Brigade will approach the deployment with the same professionalism, commitment and sense of duty demonstrated by those who came before them, and I wish them every success in fulfilling the mission.