Today, the visit of the Lebanese Minister of Defense, Mr. Yacoub Sarraf, accompanied by the Italian Ambassador in Lebanon, H.E. Massimo Marotti, at the Command of MIBIL (Missione Militare Bilaterale Italiana in Libano – Bilateral Italian Military Mission in Lebanon).
Welcome by Col. Stefano Giribono, MIBIL Commander since 15 September, the Lebanese Minister of Defense landed by helicopter at the Lebanese Armed Forces base in Al Samaya, southern Lebanon.
During the meeting, Col. Giribono presented the purpose, mission, organization, results and future goals of MIBIL, since it has been deployed. Subsequently, the Minister attended a practical demonstration of the training course for Lebanese Presidential Guard K9 unit unit. The binomial, qualified EDD (Explosive Detection Dogs), have demonstrated the level of training achieved by performing dog management and simulation exercises.
“Really thank you for the contribution. Today I already confirmed this great cooperation. In particular, in this context of terrorist threats, Italy does not only contribute through UNIFIL, but also with the MIBIL which guarantees a further increase in the efficiency of the LAF”, said the Defense Minister to the Lebanese journalists present.
At the end of the activity, the Authorities moved to the “Millevoi” base in Shama, headquarters of the Italian Contingent Command in Lebanon and employed in UNIFIL mission, where the Minister signed the honorary record.
MIBIL, operating in Lebanon since 2015, develops training activities LAF through the use of Italian Mobile Training Team, from highly specialized departments of all Italian Armed Forces and sent ad hoc to Lebanon with the aim of increasing the operational capacity of the LAF in order to ensure the security and stability of the country.
In 2016 alone MIBIL has conducted numerous courses in order to allow the preparation of more than 300 Officers, Warrant Officers and Military Troops; in 2017, MIBIL has increased its activities forming more than 400 units and reaching about 1000 trained units by the end of the year, in adherence to bilateral agreements between the Italian and Lebanese Governments.