UN appoints new UNIFIL commander amid ongoing Israeli assaults
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The UN appoints Italian Major General Diodato Abagnara as the new Head of Mission and Force Commander of UNIFIL.
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Italian Major General Diodato Abagnara, then commander of the western sector of UNIFIL, meets with a women's football team from southern Lebanon, in Tayr Debba, on March 26, 2019 (UNIFIL website)
The United Nations announced Wednesday the appointment of Italian Major General Diodato Abagnara as Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
The appointment was confirmed by UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, who noted that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres selected General Abagnara to succeed Spanish Lieutenant-General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz.
Guterres expressed appreciation for Saenz’s leadership during a particularly tense period in South Lebanon.
UNIFIL sits on the international committee created to supervise the ceasefire agreement that kicked in on November 27 and ended more than two months of all-out Israeli war on Lebanon.
Despite the ceasefire, "Israel" continues near-daily military strikes inside Lebanese territory and maintains a presence in five points along the Blue Line, which it deems “strategic”.
Last Thursday, outgoing commander Lazaro warned that “the situation along the Blue Line remains tense and unpredictable, with repeated violations and risks of escalation with unforeseeable consequences.”
Extensive experience in Lebanon and the military
Abagnara, with over 36 years of service in the Italian armed forces, is no stranger to UNIFIL, having previously commanded the mission’s Western Sector from 2018 to 2019.
More recently, he chaired the Military Technical Committee for Lebanon (MTC4L), which focuses on military coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces.
His career has included a range of strategic and leadership positions, such as brigade commander, head of the personnel division at the defense staff, and special advisor to Italy’s chief of staff.
Academic and linguistic profile
General Abagnara holds four academic degrees in political science, international relations, business management, and strategic sciences. He has also earned six master’s degrees in fields, including law, cybersecurity, intelligence, and digital transformation leadership.
In addition to his military and academic credentials, Abagnara is fluent in Italian, English, French, and Spanish, skills that will support his diplomatic and coordination efforts in a multilingual peacekeeping environment.
Read more: 'Israel's' violations threaten South Lebanon stability: UNIFIL Chief
