Beirut: The Western Sector of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL SW), led by Brigadier General Nicola Mandolesi, has demonstrated consistent efforts to bolster security and stability in communities along the Blue Line. Since the commencement of its operational mandate in February 2025, UNIFIL SW has enhanced its position through collaborative operations with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), involving Italian, Ghanaian, Irish, Korean, and Malaysian contingents.

According to National News Agency – Lebanon, the UNIFIL SW has conducted over 5,700 operations in support of the LAF, significantly increasing its activities compared to the pre-conflict period. This support has facilitated the redeployment of LAF units to over 120 permanent positions and led to the detection and reporting of more than 250 illegal weapons and ammunition caches to the LAF.

UNIFIL Sector West continues to offer essential support to local communities by facilitating humanitarian missions. Notable activities include providing medical assistance to approximately 2,800 civilians, conducting over 100 Key Leader Engagements with local authorities, performing more than 400 kilometers of technical road reconnaissance, removing around 100 roadblocks to ensure movement, and discovering 70 unexploded ordnance and 77 unsecured weapons and ammunition caches. Additionally, 56 tunnel detections were reported.

In conjunction with its operational missions, the Sector’s commitment to civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) has resulted in over 1,600 activities related to medical and educational fields and donation projects, coordinated by the UNIFIL Sector West HQ and its battalions.

Brigadier General Nicola Mandolesi, the UNIFIL Sector West Commander, stated, “The results achieved in recent months are the outcome of constant dedication, shared with multinational contingents and in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces. Every activity, whether operational or humanitarian, fulfills our mandate: to support security and stability along the Blue Line and to provide vital assistance to local communities, including by facilitating humanitarian missions. Commitment is an act, not a word.”