26.12.2022.
Send-off ceremony for SAF members deploying to UNIFIL
A send-off ceremony for a new Serbian contingent deploying to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was held in the "First Infantry Regiment of Prince Miloš the Great" barracks in Vranje today.
The contingent is comprised of a Fourth Army Brigade’s infantry company, staff officers and a national support element. Over the next six months, they will carry out responsible tasks as part of the U.N. peacekeeping force, in Sector East in this Middle Eastern country.The ceremony was attended by State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Nemanja Starović, Deputy Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, Lieutenant General Petar Cvetković, representatives of SAF units, local self-government bodies and the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as relatives and friends of soldiers, NCOs and officers deploying to the peacekeeping operation.
State Secretary Starović handed the flag of the Republic of Serbia to the infantry company commander, Major Aleksandar Pešić, and wished SAF members a lot of success in the execution of assigned tasks in the area of operation, expressing hope that they would represent the armed forces and the country in an honourable, professional and dignified manner.
The Serbian Armed Forces’ contribution to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon began in 2010 with a contingent consisting of five staff officers. Later, the SAF’s contribution to this mission was significantly increased. Currently, besides the contingent assigned to Sector East, there is also a Serbian Force Protection Platoon in Sector West in Lebanon.