4th Libre Hidalgo

The 11th Mechanised Infantry Brigade “Extremadura”, with base in Badajoz, together with the 9th Armoured Light Cavalry Regiment “Numancia” (Zaragoza), the 31st Logistic Support Group (Paterna, Valencia) and some other units with a lesser degree of participation, have relieved the 3rd Brigade “Libre Hidalgo”, made up of troops from the 29th Airborne Light Infantry Regiment “Isabel la Católica” (Siero, Asturias), the 61st Logistic Support Group (Valladolid), the 8th Armoured Light Cavalry Regiment “Lusitania” (Valencia) and other units. All in all, the contingent is composed of 1,100 soldiers.

The handover began on Thursday 15 November 2007 when five separate groups were sent from Spain to the Spanish base “Miguel de Cervantes”, near the village of Marjayoun. The new contingent is 5.36% female and 3.45% foreign.

The 4th Multinational Brigade “Libre Hidalgo”, under the command of General Casimiro José Sanjuán Martínez, assumed control of UNIFIL Sector East on 20 November 2007, relieving the 3rd Multinational Brigade “Libre Hidalgo”, under the command of General José María Prieto Martínez. The contingent will be operational for four months in the same area of responsibility in order to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701. In addition, there are also units from Nepal, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland and China operating in Sector East.