Daman, steel storm in southern Lebanon.

From September 17 to 21, Naqoura's firing point, on the extreme southwestern edge of the area of operations, hosted the FINUL semi-annual Steel Storm exercise. Organized by the Force Commander Reserve (FCR), it gathered 13 nations, 700 soldiers and allowed its actors to train while demonstrating their abilities. The aim was to further enhance the cooperation and interoperability of UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces (FAL).

Naqoura's firing point, on the extreme southwestern edge of the area of operations, hosted the FINUL semi-annual Steel Storm exercise (Picture source: French MoD)

This live ammunition exercise was complemented by a series of dynamic and static demonstrations of the East (Nepal, Spain, Indonesia, India) and West (Italy, Ireland, China, Malaysia, Ghana, Finland) and RCF (France and Finland) in the presence of the military authorities of UNIFIL and to which the Lebanese generals are invited. The FAL have also contributed to securing the exercise by keeping watch at sea thanks to their Navy, marking and filtering on land, but also to setting targets at sea.

UNIFIL has around 10,500 peacekeepers coming from 41 troop contributing countries. The Mission maintains an intensive level of operational and other activities amounting to approximately 13,500 activities per month, day and night, in the area of operations. Seventeen percent of activities are carried out jointly with the Lebanese Armed Forces. UNIFIL is complemented by a seven-vessel Maritime Task Force.

According to Security Council resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978) of 19 March 1978, UNIFIL was established to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon; restore international peace and security; assist the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area;.

According to Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) of 11 August 2006, UNIFIL, in addition to carrying out its mandate under resolutions 425 and 426, shall:

- Monitor the cessation of hostilities.
- Accompany and support the Lebanese armed forces as they deploy throughout the South, including along the Blue Line, as Israel withdraws its armed forces from Lebanon.
- Coordinate its activities referred to in the preceding paragraph (above) with the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel.
- Extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons.
- Assist the Lebanese armed forces in taking steps towards the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani river of an area free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the Government of Lebanon and of UNIFIL deployed in this area.
- Assist the Government of Lebanon, at its request, in securing its borders and other entry points to prevent the entry in Lebanon without its consent of arms or related materiel.

By this resolution, the Council also authorized UNIFIL to take all necessary action in areas of deployment of its forces and as it deems within its capabilities, to ensure that its area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind; to resist attempts by forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties under the mandate of the Security Council; and to protect United Nations personnel, facilities, installations and equipment, ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers and, without prejudice to the responsibility of the Government of Lebanon, to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence.