Despite the war in Lebanon and the associated threat to the UN mission UNIFIL, the red-white-red contingent also maintains its position in the country. Now there is also a planned rotation: 81 soldiers were ceremoniously said goodbye to Lebanon by Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner on Monday in the barracks of Götzendorf (Bruck an der Leitha district). With Lieutenant Colonel Maria Eder, the Austrian contingent is led by a woman for the first time.
Tanner pointed out that the new contingent commander also played an important role in introducing voluntary basic military service for women more than three decades ago. 71 men and ten women are now taking on their duties in the crisis area, where they actually have to ensure compliance with a ceasefire. However, following the terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, Israel began an extensive military campaign against its northern neighbor to stop rocket attacks by the Shia militia Hezbollah.
Israel criticizes the presence of the 10,000 blue helmets, because they would be used by Hezbollah as a protective shield. Tanner complained to reporters that there was currently “no improvement in the security situation” in the area of operations. She called on all parties to the conflict to prioritize the protection of troops.
“New normal” for the troops
“This will definitely not be a sunshine mission,” the minister said, referring to the repeated Israeli attacks on UN forces. There were also wounded among the Austrian soldiers, and the ‘new normal’ for the troops was that they had to spend many hours in the camp.
Like other top representatives of the armed forces, Tanner also emphasized that the Austrian contingent responsible for logistics was the ‘backbone’ of the entire UNIFIL force. Without the Austrian soldiers, “nothing works at all,” she emphasized. The move of the new team should be completed on December 9. Before that, she has to complete one last exercise.
Additional tasks for the Austrian contingent
Major General Martin Dorfer, responsible for foreign operations, said Austrian UNIFIL soldiers have “a full order book”. Because local and civilian employees could not go to the camp due to the tense situation, army logistics had to take on additional tasks. The camp fire brigade also falls under the Austrian area of responsibility. “If an incident occurs, the Austrians are the first on the scene,” Dorfer said.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
