Beirut, 3 February 2022 (TDI): The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) receives vehicle donations from the Italian army during a handover ceremony.
The Italian Bilateral Mission in Lebanon (MIBIL) delivered 2 20-seat buses, 1 tanker, and 1 pneumatic boat to the Lebanese Armed Forces.
General Ziad Nasr, representing the Commander-in-Chief of the LAF was present at the handover ceremony. Along with the Ambassador of Italy to Lebanon, Dr. Nicoletta Bombardiere.
In addition to the Commander of the Joint Operations Command, General of Corps Francesco Paolo Figliuolo.
Visit of Joint Ops HQ Commander Gen. Figliuolo to Beirut. Accompanied by Amb. Bombardiere he reviewed w/LAF Commander ongoing military cooperation, attended donation ceremony of vehicles & speedboat in support of LAF capacities & met w/MIBIL. Italy stands by LAF@LebarmyOfficial pic.twitter.com/aSqeuoQ6OA
— Italy in Lebanon (@ItalyinLebanon) February 2, 2022
Italian support of the LAF
Moreover, these funds are the first tranche of a donation that will be completed by the end of 2022.
Further, the delivery of means and materials is one of the initiatives in support of the LAF established in June 2021 during an international video conference.
It hosted a total of 20 countries, as well as the UN and the EU, co-chaired by the Ministers of Defense of Italy and France.
Initiatives were confirmed last December, during the visit to the land of cedars by the Minister of Defense. In addition to Lorenzo Guerini and the Chief of the Defense Staff and Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone.
Subsequently, the vehicles delivered on Wednesday fall within the agreement signed between The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the Ministry of Defense and the Defense Industries Agency (AID).
#Libano
L’#Italia supporta le #ForzeArmate libanesi
Consegnati oggi a #Beirut i primi mezzi a cura della missione #MIBIL
La fornitura di mezzi e materiali è uno dei pilastri dell’impegno internazionale a sostegno delle LAF
➡️https://t.co/FtxFHPtdiL#UnaForzaperilPaese#2febbraio pic.twitter.com/N6lqqrbb5e— Forze Armate StatoMaggioreDifesa (@SM_Difesa) February 2, 2022
Italian Defense Donations Purpose
The provision of means and materials is one of the pillars of the international commitment to support the strengthening of LAF capacities.
In this context, the Italian Defense, involving a series of donors, is using dedicated funds for the purchase of vehicles. This is to facilitate the mobility of the Lebanese forces.
This comes as a priority strategic need envisaged by the LAF and the sale of Navy materials for maintenance like helicopters and ships.
Finally, the Italian Defense confirmed its determination to continue its commitment. Hence, it is seeking ever greater and better forms of cooperation, within the constraints imposed by national and international legislation.
