On Friday, a ceremonial farewell ceremony for a contingent of the Austrian Armed Forces to Lebanon took place in Austria. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner and Lieutenant General Martin Dorfer attended the ceremony, during which soldiers, primarily specialists in the fields of automotive, mechanics, medical services, logistics, and firefighting, will be deployed to their deployment after a four-week preparation phase.
Defense Minister Tanner acknowledged the contribution of Austrian soldiers to peace and stability in Lebanon and emphasized Austria's international responsibility in times of global uncertainty. The ceremony also referenced the upcoming "International Day of UN Peacekeepers" on May 29 and the 30th anniversary of the Association of Austrian Peacekeepers, an organization that has been committed to peace and human rights since 1995 and unites former and active Austrian troops deployed abroad.
Austria has been participating in the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission since November 2011. Following the current rotation, 154 men and eight women soldiers of the Austrian Armed Forces will be part of the mission, which comprises approximately 11.800 soldiers and 1.000 civilian UN staff from 40 nations. The mission's headquarters are located at Camp Naqoura in southwest Lebanon. The UNIFIL force's mandate is to contribute to stability in the region.
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