Posted on 09/01/2006 10:22:01 PM PDT by HAL9000
Beginning of the Italian unloading with southern Lebanon, to reinforce Finul
TYR (Lebanon) - a first group of Italian soldiers unloaded Saturday with Tyr, in the south of Lebanon, the framework of the mission of UNO to guarantee a cease-fire at the border with Israel, brought back a correspondent of AFP.
Five Zodiac, with seven soldiers on board each one, accosted with 07H30 (04H30 GMT) on the beach of a town hall, Rest house, flown over by two helicopters.
This first group was accomodated by Italian blue Helmets of the temporary Force of the United Nations in Lebanon (Finul) already on the spot.
"It acts of a unit of recognition. They will control the beaches, sea-beds, the roads, before the large one of the troops does not unload ", indicated to AFP an Italian military spokesman, lieutenant Federico Mariani.
The five Zodiac inspected the littoral before accosting, and one of the helicopters briefly landed, for redécoller at once.
A building of war and four barges of unloading were visible with two kilometers of the coast, according to the correspondent of AFP.
Eight hundred and sixty eighteen soldiers of the regiment San Marco, a unit of elite of marine fusiliers, must unload Saturday and they will be followed in 10 days of 120 other soldiers, according to Finul. They will be supported by 132 vehicles with wheels, 16 caterpillars and 10 armoured vehicles of attack.
"They will be spread in the east of Tyr, in the south of the Litani river", specified lieutenant Mariani.
Five Italian warships, whose Garibaldi aircraft carriers, cross with broad of Lebanon, with their board some 2.500 soldiers Italian. Thousand five hundred soldiers must remain aboard ship.
This Italian deployment marks the true launching of the international military mobilization intended to guarantee peace in southern Lebanon after the establishment of a cease-fire which put an end, August 14, at 34 days of confrontations between the Israeli army and the combatants of Hezbollah.
Current Finul, deployed in Lebanon since 1978, account 2.000 men. Its manpower must in the long term be carried to 15.000 men.
Western powers shouldn't be taking part in this mindless charade.
These troops will merely be bodyguards for Hezbollah - and human shields.
and Ransom Targets.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.