UNIFIL Maritime Task Force New Commander Commences Duties

Rear Admiral Luiz Henrique Caroli handed over on Saturday the command of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Maritime Task Force to Rear Admiral Wagner Lopes de Moraes Zamith aboard the Brazilian Flagship Frigate “UNIĂO.”

“The Lebanese Navy has demonstrated, time and again, its professionalism and outstanding commitment towards securing Lebanese waters,” UNIFIL Commander Maj.-Gen. Paolo Serra said.

According to a UNIFIL statement, Serra hailed the MTF’s role in preventing illegal arms smuggling.

“Through its monitoring activities, the MTF is playing a vital preventive role by warding off attempts at illegal arms trafficking, while also having a positive effect on the security of the merchant traffic in the area,” he stated.

Serra assumed the command of UNIFIL on January 28, succeeding Maj. Gen. Alberto Asarta Cuevas.

For his part, Brazil’s Rear Admiral Zamith said he was looking forward to his task.

“I reiterate my commitment to maintaining the high level of relationship between the Maritime Task Force and the Lebanese Navy. We shall continuously strive to strengthen our ties of friendship and cooperation,” he said.

The handover ceremony was attended by Lebanese Navy Commander Rear Admiral Nazih Baroudi, senior officers from Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and UNIFIL as well as representatives from countries contributing troops to UNIFIL.

The MTF has been deployed at the request of the Lebanese Government in 2006 to assist the Lebanese Navy to help prevent the unauthorized entry of arms or related material by sea into Lebanon.

It also has been working closely with the Lebanese Navy on training and capacity building programs.

The UNIFIL statement said that the Force has hailed around 42,900 ships and referred nearly 1,750 vessels to the Lebanese authorities for further inspections.

Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Turkey are the 15 countries that have contributed to the MTF since its formation.