The Spanish mobile training team is running its first ever course on improvised explosive devices and demining in Tripoli

• This travelling programme enables Spanish cooperation to be tailored to the needs of the Lebanese units

The Spanish Mobile Training Team (MTT) of Engineers, comprising five military personnel from the 1st Engineers Regiment in Burgos, has, for the first time, delivered training on a mobile basis outside the Al-Salhiyeh base in Sidon (Lebanon). On this occasion, the Spanish team travelled to Tripoli (Lebanon) to deliver a two-week course on countering improvised explosive devices (C-IED) and demining (C-IED & Demining Course) to engineering personnel from the 1st Intervention Regiment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).

This training approach enables Spanish cooperation to be tailored to the needs and constraints of specific units within the Lebanese Armed Forces, by deploying Spanish teams and instructors to their own facilities and conducting the training there. During the training period, the Spanish team remains integrated within the Lebanese unit, which allows for close coordination with its military personnel and enables the training content to be adapted to their specific needs.

The aim of the course was to strengthen the capabilities of Lebanese engineers in the areas of countering improvised explosive devices (C-IED), unexploded ordnance management and demining, equipping participants with the necessary knowledge to recognise and identify different threats, implement procedures for dealing with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and unexploded ordnance (UXO), and understand the key procedures and safety measures associated with demining operations and the survey of contaminated areas.

The launch of this mobile programme represents a step forward in Spain’s cooperation efforts with the Lebanese Armed Forces, as it enables the scope of training activities to be expanded and brings training closer to the units themselves, overcoming the limitations arising from their mobility. In this way, the Spanish MTT tailors its activities to the needs of the Lebanese Armed Forces and helps ensure that a greater number of units can benefit from the experience and expertise provided by Spanish military personnel.

Furthermore, ongoing coordination with the French detachment enables the provision of a comprehensive training programme that combines various military capabilities, contributing to the professional development of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the strengthening of the country’s security institutions. The joint work between the two teams serves as an example of international cooperation aimed at improving stability and security in southern Lebanon.

Spanish training of the Lebanese Armed Forces

These training activities are carried out within the framework of the Military Technical Committee for Lebanon (MTC4L), which was established in March 2024 and comprises a group of countries — including Spain — whose main objective is to coordinate their efforts to enhance the efficiency and operational capability of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).