Lebanese army, UN peacekeepers conduct joint drill

The Lebanese armed Forces (LAF) and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Wednesday conducted a joint military exercise in southern Lebanon.

UNIFIL Chief of Staff Brigadier-General Xavier de Woillemont stressed in a statement the importance of cooperation and coordination between UNIFIL and the Lebanese army, saying the exercise falls in the context of enhancing these combined efforts.

"This joint exercise is a good opportunity for both UNIFIL and the Lebanese army to further strengthen their cooperation and mutual knowledge," he said. "To maintain their efficiency, it is important for military units to constantly hone their skills and expertise through regular training."

The targets were located at sea in order to limit noise to any inhabited area. The safety at sea was provided by Lebanese Navy ships with supports from the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force.

UNIFIL was mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 1701 to conduct peacekeeping missions in south Lebanon. The resolution ended the 34-day war between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite armed group Hezbollah.

Source: Xinhua