Prior to 2018, the Armed Forces of Malta had only deployed officers in staff officer positions however, since then the AFM deploys a team of officers and soldiers in support of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Maltese Officers were the first to participate in 2007 and 2011, and their deployment was made possible through the close cooperation that exists between the Maltese and Italian military, and supported by the good offices of the Italian Military Mission (MICCD) in Malta which, together with Headquarters AFM, played an essential role in the planning and coordination of such deployments. During these deployments in southern Lebanon, the Maltese Officers were mainly tasked with planning, implementing and monitoring a number of projects in the region that improve UNIFIL’s effectiveness within its area of operations as well as increase the consent of the local population towards UNIFIL and at the same time improve the general humanitarian situation for the local populace in South Lebanon. Such projects included the reconstruction of important arterial roads, the installation of water purifying facilities, the refurbishment of schools and other public buildings such as hospitals and municipalities, the installation of electricity generators as well as projects concerning waste management.
In 2018, it was determined AFM personnel were to be deployed with the Irish Defence Forces in support of UNIFIL. The deployment was phased and would initially consist of the participation of an Officer and a Non-Commissioned Officer within the Irish Battalion as from November 2018 for a one-time period of six months. In addition to this, it was also agreed that the AFM would, after this initial deployment, deploy an infantry section consisting of eight soldiers led by a Maltese Junior Officer also embedded within the Irish Battalion. In addition to the above, prior to deploying in Lebanon, all personnel earmarked for deployment undergo a period of pre-deployment training in Ireland. The first deployment commenced in November 2018 in the form of one junior officer and one senior non-commissioned officer within the Irish Battalion HQ’s Operations Branch up till May 2019. The AFM will continue to fill in these posts for periods of six months.
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