German navy departs for Lebanon mission
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, Sept 21, IRNA
Germany-Lebanon-UN mission
The German navy left Thursday the northern port city of Wilhelmshaven for Lebanon where they will join the UN peacekeeping mission.
Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung bid farewell to his troops on their 10-day journey to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, wishing them a safe return.
Germany's parliament approved Wednesday to send a naval force to Lebanon for its first troop deployment in the Middle East since World War II.
The Lebanon mandate is to run through August 2007.
The German stationing in Lebanon as part of the UNIFIL mission is reportedly to involve a naval force of up to 2,400 soldiers as well a as several naval vessels- among them two frigates, four patrol boats and two supply ships.
The German navy will be assigned to monitor the coast starting from some seven miles offshore from Lebanon and the Lebanese naval troops will guard the coast up to seven miles.
Germany will take command of an international naval force that will also include vessels from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands.
OT/2321/1414
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