15th Libre Hidalgo

Marjayoun, 30.11.2011

The 11th Mechanised Infantry Brigade “Extremadura” (known as BRIMZ XI), which has its HQ at the “General Menacho” base in Bótoa (Badajoz), has returned to Lebanon for the third time. It constitutes the core of the 15th Brigade “Libre Hidalgo” (BRILIB XV). It is supported by personnel from other units, including the 11th Cavalry Regiment “España” (with base in Zaragoza), the Signals Brigade, the 61st Logistic Support Group (Valladolid), the Navy and the Civil Guard. All in all, BRILIB XV is made up of 1,004 troops who for the next five months will be integrated into the Multinational Brigade Sector East (MNB SECEAST) of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

On 22 September 2011 BRILIB XV began its mission in Lebanon to ensure compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Its 1,004 troops relieved the units and soldiers of BRILIB XIV at the base “Miguel de Cervantes” in the Marjayoun District, nearly 4,000 km away from Spain. In the Transfer of Authority ceremony General Fernando Gutiérrez Díaz de Otazu, commander of BRIMZ XI, took over from General Miguel Alcañiz Comas, commander of the 12th Armoured Brigade “Guadarrama”, and assumed command of MNB SECEAST.

The whole UN operation in the eastern sector of the southern strip of Lebanon, from the Litani River to the Blue Line which separates the country from Israel, is controlled from the HQ of this Brigade, which is made up mainly of Spanish personnel. As well as the Spanish troops, the Brigade is composed of units from Indonesia (1,104 soldiers), Nepal (1,019), India (897), Malaysia (361), El Salvador (52), Brunei (10) and Serbia (5). In total, almost 4,500 soldiers make up a truly multinational Brigade under UN command and led by Spain since 2006.

The contingent for Operation “Libre Hidalgo” XV is made up mainly of personnel from BRIMZ XI, which contributes over 660 soldiers, as well as the following (in decreasing order): The Navy (136, 126 of them from the Marine Infantry), the 61st Logistic Support Group (60) and a squadron from the 11th Regiment “España” (56). In addition, 75 soldiers from other Army units and a 12-member unit from the Civil Guard assist the Spanish force in the fulfilment of its duties within the UN mission.

UNIFIL MNB SECEAST battalions perform key operational tasks under the command of the United Nations. Deployed in different positions within the Area of Responsibility of the Brigade, they carry out patrols and man permanent outposts to guarantee the observance of the cessation of hostilities and support and assist the Lebanese Armed Forces to control the area from the Litani River to the Blue Line, negotiated with Israel as the line of separation between the two countries but which does not still constitute an international border.

The 442-strong Light Protected Tactical Battalion “Alonso de Navarrete” makes up the Spanish Battalion (SPANBATT) within the Multinational Brigade. Most of its troops come from the 6th Mechanised Infantry Regiment “Saboya” (286) and the Navy Regiment (104). It also includes 42 members of the Salvadorian army, in a demonstration of the solid military cooperation that exists between the two countries.

SPANBATT is deployed at sensitive points very close to the Blue Line and its task is crucial: On the security and stability of that area depends to a great extent the success of the mission and the pacification of this region of the Middle East.