THE spanish soldiers Integrated into the UN mission on the Lebanese border, they live under tension and are constantly on alert in the face of the escalation of hostilities in recent days between Israel and the terrorist militia Hezbollah. And even more so in recent hours. “In recent days, they have been going from bunker to bunker”.
The one who tells it is an army commander in contact with the 650 Spanish soldiers who are living these last days with the rest of their colleagues of the UNIFIL Multinational Brigade Eastthat Spain is carrying out with soldiers from nine different countries. “Something important is coming,” say the commanders of the armed forces who also have direct knowledge of the situation.
The troops of this peacekeeping mission are caught between two fires. The attack suffered in recent days by Hezbollah, according to military commanders, has once again put the members of the contingent on guard. There is some concern at the Miguel de Cervantes base due to the escalation.
Tshave The massive explosion in Lebanon of thousands of mobile devices (among them, walkie talkies and telephones) in what is considered an operation by Israeli intelligence services, some members of the contingent They proceeded to examine some of the devices which have been purchased there in recent years.
These are not sophisticated devices for military use, since these are supplied to the mission from outside the territory. These would be devices such as conventional mobile phones or walkie talkies that sometimes one infantry company or another must use for communications in B.
According to the sources consulted, there is some concern among the troops of the different countries regarding the operation carried out a few days ago allegedly by the Mossad, which left dozens dead and hundreds injured.
Tensions have been concentrated mainly on the border between the two countries, but in recent hours the Israeli army carried out a “selective attack” against a building located the southern suburbs of Beirutknown as Dahyestronghold of the paramilitary group Hezbollah.
At least 12 people have died and 66 have resulting injuries in the bombing in the Lebanese capital, according to the country’s health ministry.
Government concern
After this latest episode, government sources have also revealed to this newspaper their growing concern about the Spanish soldiers. The troops are spending a lot of time in armoured shelters, protected from shells from both sides, but the situation is only getting worse.
Executive sources stress that the confrontation It has practically become a virtual conflictgiven that the exchange of rockets and missiles on both sides of the border, flying over the “blue line”has been on the agenda for months.
At the moment, the government says, the withdrawal of troops is not planned, an extreme that should be agreed with the rest of the countries of the mission. Although at the moment it is General Aroldo Lázaro who commands Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, Spain cannot decide to withdraw its soldiers unilaterally. The decision would be taken by the UN and would affect the entire contingent, and so far this has not been the case.
Of course, the armed forces have already updated their evacuation plans. When the detachment is withdrawn, the evacuation will be by sea, since the Hezbollah terrorist militia Not only does it control the south of the country, but it has a stronghold that blocks access to Beirut airport.
This plan will require maritime support from United Nations troops, mainly to facilitate movements when the order is given to leave Lebanon.
