King Juan Carlos begins Lebanon visit he will inspect Spanish UN troops

The trip comes just days after Spain took over command of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) which was set up in 1978 to monitor Lebanon's border with Israel

King Juan Carlos begins Lebanon visit he will inspect Spanish UN troops

Spain's King Juan Carlos arrived on Monday on his first visit to Lebanon, where he will inspect Spanish UN troops stationed in the south of the country during a 48-hour stay.

The king, accompanied by Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, was to be hosted by President Michel Sleiman at a state dinner later the same day.

The trip comes just days after Spain took over command of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) which was set up in 1978 to monitor Lebanon's border with Israel.

UNIFIL currently counts 12,000 troops from 29 countries. Italy has the largest contingent with 2,500 soldiers, while Spain contributes 1,070 soldiers.

Since UNIFIL's founding, 275 of its soldiers have died in service.

The last major attack targeted a UN patrol in southern Lebanon in June 2007, killing three Spaniards and three Colombians on patrol.

Spain currently also holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.



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