First Malbatt 850-5 Unifil Team Departs for Lebanon

PETALING JAYA (Selangor), Sept 8 (Bernama) -- The first 215-member Malaysian Batallion (Malbatt) 850-5 team left for Lebanon to join the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL). The group was led by Colonel Khairul Anuar Abd Aziz as Malbatt 850-5 commander and 50 officers and 165 members of other ranks including two members of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and a civilian financial officer from the Defence Ministry. Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said beginning Thursday, the Malbatt 850-5 team would move in stages to take over from Malbatt 850-4 which ends its 12-month operations on Sept 20. “Malaysia’s involvement in Lebanon actually proves the credibility, authority and excellence of the Malaysian Armed Forces. “The government of Lebanon has also acknowledged the role played by the Malbatt contingent in ensuring that the situation and safety there remains stable,” he said in a press conference here. Hishammuddin, who is also Minister with Special Functions in the Prime Minister’s Department, said the members of Malbatt 850-5 had undergone integrated training for three months under the supervision of the Joint Forces Headquarters. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA