The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) held a ceremony Tuesday for the transfer of command from Italian Maj. Gen. Luciano Portolano to Irish Maj. Gen. Michael Beary.

The ceremony was held at the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura and attended by officials from Lebanon, Italy, Ireland and UN.

Portolano said in his farewell speech that "the Lebanese army is working day and night with UNIFIL peacekeepers in order to preserve a stable environment."

Beary, for his part, said he "will endeavor to build on such notable achievements by monitoring the cessation of hostilities and fostering respect for the Blue Line by all parties, maintaining close cooperation with the Lebanese armed forces and growing the strategic dialogue process."

The UNIFIL comprises almost 10,500 military personnel from 40 countries, including the maritime task force, the only naval force in peacekeeping operations, and some 1,000 Lebanese and international civilian staff. Endit

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