The UK Defence Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa (DSAME) Air Marshal Martin Sampson conducted a 2 day visit to Lebanon from 5 to 6 July.
During a special ceremony held at UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura, DSAME saw the raising of the United Kingdom's flag at UNIFIL as a Troop Contributing Country represented by a female officer as the Integrated Outreach Operations Officer. The UK is officially the 49th troop contributor to the Mission's now 10,101 peacekeepers.
DSAME met General Joseph Aoun, Chief of Defence for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Abdallah Bou Habib. He was accompanied during his visits by Charge D'Affaires Camilla Nickless, and the Defence Attaché Lt. Colonel Lee Saunders.
The Charge D'Affaires Camilla Nickless, said:
An important milestone in the UK's contribution to Lebanon's stability and security during the raising of the United Kingdom's flag at UNIFIL. We fully support UNIFIL's work in south Lebanon, as mandated in UN Resolution 1701.
The visit of Air Marshal Martin Sampson to Lebanon and his frank and open discussions with the LAF Commander is a symbol of the continued strong cooperation and partnership between the UK's Armed Forces and the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Air Marshal Martin Sampson said:
I was proud to take part in the United Kingdom's flag raising ceremony at UNIFIL as a troop contributing country. UNIFIL's mandate and operations in South Lebanon are important to stability and security for Lebanon and the region.
During my meetings I reiterated my support and admiration for the courage and resilience of the Lebanese people and that of the LAF. We remain a friend and an ally of the Lebanese people and the Lebanese Armed Forces.
