Regular Replacement of Serbian Armed Forces Unit in UNIFIL
Friday, 24.4.2026 | Multinational Operations
Members of the Serbian Armed Forces, who had been involved in the UNIFIL since September last year, arrived in the Republic of Serbia last night after completing successfully their participation in the mission.
They were engaged as part of the force protection platoon in sector “West” and tasked with securing the base where the Italian contingent of the United Nations peacekeeping forces was located. On the same tasks, with the same mandate, they were replaced by their colleagues, also from the Training Command, sent to the AO earlier this month.
Minister of Defense Bratislav Gašić welcomed the members of the Serbian Armed Forces at the “Constantine the Great” Airport in Niš and wished them a happy return to their homeland and, on behalf of Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces and President of the Republic Aleksandar Vučić and himself, thanked them for “brightening the image of the motherland in front of their colleagues from other countries and the United Nations on the whole”.
— You represented the Serbian Armed Forces and our country with honor and dignity. The fifth, out of a total of six possible degrees of vulnerability of mission members, represents an extremely simplified, but a very clear picture of the security situation in which you performed the assigned tasks on a daily basis. Despite all the challenges and dangers, we received the most favorable comments and praises for your involvement - said Minister Gašić.
On that occasion, he has pointed out that 30 of them, i.e. a total of 160, together with other members of the Serbian Armed Forces contingent in Lebanon, were engaged in a peacekeeping operation in that country in very complex security conditions in the recent period, and that the Republic of Serbia, assuming the obligation to engage in the operation, assumed the risks that this task entails as well.
— The first and greatest risk relates to the life and health of our members. Thanks to your professionalism and exceptional training and, of course, God’s help, all of you return to your country, but with much more knowledge and military experience than when you left it. The leadership of the Ministry of Defense and Serbian Armed Forces received daily reports on your work and engagement. Together with your loved ones, we anxiously followed the news about the development of the security situation in the AO to which you were sent - said the Minister, expressing his pleasure and happiness to see them all together today - alive, healthy and smiling.
Deputy Chief of the Peacekeeping Operations Center, Colonel Dragan Ivković, has said that members of the Serbian Armed Forces, who returned last night, during their engagement in Lebanon, performed regular tasks in the AO in accordance with the mission’s mandate and standard operating procedures.
— Although the security environment has changed in accordance with current events in the Middle East region, all tasks assigned to our platoon were carried out professionally and responsibly with maximum respect for all security procedures and excellent interpersonal relations. In this way, our peacekeepers showed professionalism and responsibility and once again confirmed that the Serbian Armed Forces are a reliable, credible and responsible partner in international relations - said Colonel Ivković.
Captain 1st class Đorđe Kričak, commander of the force protection platoon, has pointed out that it was an honor and a pleasure for him to command the members of that unit.
— Despite the unfavorable security situation, the force protection platoon performed all tasks professionally, responsibly, honorably and honestly, for which they received recognition and praise from the commander of the “West” sector and the commander of the Italian battalion under whose command the platoon was placed. During the engagement, the force protection platoon was equipped with modern assets that were not at all behind the assets that members of other armed forces engaged in the multinational operation handled and were equipped with - said Capt. Kričak, adding that with good training, proper use of the assets and equipment entrusted to them, as well as knowledge of rules and compliance with procedures, they had once again confirmed that the members of the Serbian Armed Forces were recognizable in an international environment.
