The Italian Aerospace Information Web
by Aeromedia - corso Giambone 46/18 - 10135 Torino (Italy)

Forty Years ago saw the Start of the UNIFIL Mission in Lebanon

In March 1978 Israel sent its armed forces into southern Lebanon. Resolution N° 425 was passed on March 19, 1978 by the United Nations Security Council which decided to implement the mission called the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Successive Resolutions have prolonged the duration of the interposition mission in 6-monthly tranches.

As early as summer 1978, two Lockheed C-130E's of the Italian Air Force departed from Turin/Caselle Airport for Lebanon. One of the Hercules carried the very first Agusta/Bell AB 204B belonging to the Venaria based 34° Gruppo Squadroni Toro for UNIFIL, painted all-white with the United Nations logo in black. The second aircraft carried technical personnel, ground support equipment and spare parts.

Hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah faction are still ongoing, and in 2024 and 2025 attacks from both sides took place against various UNIFIL facilities in Southern Lebanon.

In the picture: Agusta/Bell AB 204B MM80390 / E.I.236 (s/n 3120) belonging to 34° Gruppo Squadroni Toro of the Aviazione Leggera dell'Esercito while carried on board an Italian Air Force Hercules departing for Lebanon in Summer 1978. (SAGAT Press Office via Aeromedia Archive)

(Aeromedia, August 2018)