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Salvadoran military contingent that served in Lebanon returns homeSan Salvador, Aug 23, 2009 (EFE via COMTEX) -- EL SALVADOR-LEBANON Salvadoran military contingent that served in Lebanon returns home ).- A total of 52 Salvadoran peacekeeping troops who served in Lebanon for the past four months returned home Sunday, the military here said. The soldiers were part of the second contingent of Salvadoran soldiers who have served with the Interim Forces of the United Nations in Lebanon, or FINUL, an international deployment under the command of Spain. An official with the Defense Ministry told Efe that the troops arrived at 2:00 p.m. (2000 GMT) at a military air base in Comalapa, 44 kilometers (27 miles) south of San Salvador. Meanwhile, an official communique said that while stationed in Lebanon the unit had carried out assorted activities including "verification of cessation of hostilities, tactical security missions, construction work, medical services," as well as work connected with the "deactivation of explosives." The Salvadoran soldiers' mission in Lebanon lasted six months, of which the first two months consisted of training in Zaragoza, Spain, before they were deployed to the Middle Eastern country itself. El Salvador sent its first contingent of "blue helmet" peacekeeping troops to Lebanon in August 2008 to carry out a mission similar to that performed by the soldiers who have just returned home. EFE cp/bp |