The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)’s Maritime Task Force has executed a maritime exercise with the Lebanese Navy off the coast of Lebanon.

The Lebanese Navy’s participation in the exercise was a boost to the anticipated future handover of the full responsibility of Lebanese territorial water, said UNIFIL Force Commander Major-General Claudio Graziano.

The task force was deployed in 2006 to restrict arms smuggling after the Israel-Hezbollah war off the Lebanese coast.

The naval units in the current Task Force are from Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy and Turkey.