More than 650 Spanish soldiers They remain deployed on the border between Israel and Lebanon. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, declared this Wednesday before the UN Security Council that the “blue helmets‘of the FINAL (United Nations Interim Force for Lebanon) will remain in their positions “despite Israel’s request” to withdraw “in the interests of their security”.
THE Armed Forces They have been deployed in Lebanon since 2006 and, since 2022, Spanish General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz has commanded the United Nations mission after replacing the Italian Stefano del Col. The UN Secretary General elected the Army Major General as head of mission. and commander of UNIFIL after a long selection process. With this, Spain was again responsible for the second time for more than 10,000 peacekeepers and 800 civilians from 46 countries.
General Lázaro, son of a Legion officer in Sidi-Ifni, had a long and exceptional career in the Spanish army since 1986date on which he was appointed lieutenant of infantry. Since then, he has held various command positions, such as platoon leader or infantry brigade commander.
“He served in the Army Training and Doctrine Command as a staff officer; at EUROFOR headquarters in the Italian city of Florence; in the NATO Rapid Deployment Corps, in Valencia; and as chief of general staff of the 10th Mechanized Brigade ‘Guzmán el Bueno’ of the army in Córdoba”, explains the UN. In 2020, he was promoted to major general.
He also has extensive international experience: missions with the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the NATO, EUFOR and with the UNIFIL. This extensive experience as well as his training in the field of diplomacy, peace and security led him to serve as advisor to the Ministry of Defense on cross-cutting defense and security issues in Madrid. In addition, his mastery of different foreign languages stands out, such as English, French and Italian.
His military academic training stands out for his courses in the army and in the general staff, both in Spain and in NATO; civil-military cooperation; Gender Advisor in operations, recovery and stabilization strategies and strategic leadership in the global social security environment; and command of armored units and airborne/parachute units. He has also participated as a speaker and student in numerous seminars and forums.
UNIFIL and the Spanish army
THE UNIFIL mission aims to ensuring peace on the border between Lebanon and Israelfacilitate access of humanitarian aid to the civilian population and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons. In this sense, it supports the capabilities and modernization of the Lebanese Armed Forces and their work south of the Litani River, on the border with Israel.
The Armed Forces have been deployed in Lebanon since 2006 and during this period 16 Spanish soldiers died in the country. Nine of them died of natural causes or road accidents, but six members of the Parachute Brigade were killed during an attack during which an explosive exploded as the vehicle in which they traveled passed. were traveling. This event took place in 2007.
