1. “KEDROS” OPERATION (17 JULY – 09 SEP 2006)
(Evacuation of Civilians / Humanitarian Aid Forwarding)
On 14 July 2006 and as soon as it was announced that hostilities had started in Lebanon, preparations initiated to apply already HNDGS existing plan, regarding safe evacuation of Greek citizens from hostility regions.
In the framework of that plan, an operation codenamed “KEDROS” was conducted from 16 July till 14 September 2006.
During the above operation:
a. Hellenic Navy:
(1) Assigned 4 frigates with their organic helicopters, 4 landing ships and 6 unconventional warfare teams. The total number of personnel involved (male and female) amounted to 1450.
(2) 2647 Greek and foreign citizens were evacuated from Beirut to Larnaca – Cyprus. Ten sea-trips were performed.
Specific numbers and nationals evacuated are as follows:
ARGENTINA (21), AUSTRALIA (255), AUSTRIA (33), BELARUS (40), BELGIUM (115), BOLIVIA (2), BRAZIL (3), BULGARIA (18), CANADA (30), CZECH REPUBLIC (3), CHINA (14), COLOMBIA (12), CUBA (1), CYPRUS (265), DENMARK (25), ENGLAND (5), ETHIOPIA (4), FRANCE (42), GERMANY (76), GREECE (352) , HUNGARY (10), INDIA (1), IRELAND (2), ITALY (23), JORDAN (1), KAZAKHSTAN (5) LEBANON (491), LITHUANIA (1), MALTA (2), MEXICO (32), MOLDOVA (36), NETHERLANDS (23), NEW ZEALAND (2), PALESTINE (13), PANAMAS (20), PHILIPPINES (13), POLAND (2), ROMANIA (35), RUSSIA (120), SENEGAL (1), SIERRA LEONE (1), SLOVAKIA (6), SOMALIA (1), SWEDEN (123), SWITZERLAND (68), SRI LANKA (3), SYRIA (3), THAILAND (1), TRINIDAD-TOBAGO (1), UKRAINE (22), USA (45), UZBEKISTAN (5), VENEZUELA (26).
(3) Humanitarian aid of 240 tons was forwarded from Larnaca to Beirut. Cypriot Humanitarian Aid and UN vehicles were forwarded, as well.
b. Hellenic Air Force:
(1) Performed 9 C-130 aircraft sorties to transport the humanitarian aid from Elefsis Air Base to Larnaca – Cyprus, while the total number of personnel involved amounted to 50 men.
(2) Humanitarian aid of 240 tons, was transported from Athens to Larnaca, while the total number of personnel involved (male and female) amounted to about 70.
(3) A considerable number of refugees (about 200) were transported from Larnaca to Athens.
c. Hellenic Army:
Assigned a 70 men force to the Elefsis AFB to assist in handling, packing and loading humanitarian aid.
2. 09 SEPTEMBER – 15 OCTOBER 2006
(Lebanon Sea Area Surveillance)
Following the lift of Israeli naval blockade of Lebanon and in compliance with the UN resolution forbidding rearmament of HEZBOLLAH, an international naval force was established to control the sea and air space, to the west of Lebanon, in co-operation with the Lebanese authorities. The mission of this force consisted in conducting Sea Control operations, aiming at preventing arms and relevant equipment trafficking to Lebanon.
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From 18 September 2006 and until the said Force was deployed, an Interim Maritime Task Force (MTF 425) was established, under the command of the Italian Navy. As soon as the Task Force was established, the Hellenic Navy offered “Limnos” Frigate, a helicopter and an unconventional warfare team.
The total number of personnel (male and female) involved amounted to 210.
3. OPERATION UNIFIL (since 15 Oct 2006)
(UN Naval Force deployed in the framework of Operation UNIFIL)
On the15th of October 2006 the Maritime Task Force 448, under the command of the German Naval Forces, was tasked with the control of the broader sea area. Germany allocated two frigates, four patrol boats, and two support and supply vessels. Nations have contributed the following to the operation: Bulgaria, (one frigate), Denmark.,(two patrol boats), Greece, (one frigate, one HN helicopter, a team of frogmen), Norway, (four patrol boats and one support and supply vessel), Sweden, (one corvette)and Turkey (one frigate).
Greece, still operating in Lebanon, has contributed a missile boat in support of the Maritime Task Force while providing training to personnel of the Lebanese Navy.
The Hellenic Navy also participates in the operation with three staff officers, two at UN New York and one at the Naval Operation Center of UNIFIL in Lebanon (NAQURA).
Since Operation UNIFIL (15 Oct), all ships participating in the operation have accomplished 2150 merchant ship hailings.
Until the 05th of July 2007, the following assets had been allocated to Operation UNIFIL:
4 frigates, 1 torpedo boat, 4 helicopters of the HN, 4 teams of uncoventional warfare and 900 men and women.
4. TOTAL NUMBER OF ASSETS ALLOCATED FROM 17 JULY 2006 TO 05 JULY 2007
The Hellenic Armed Forces have contributed the following to the above operations:
a. Frigates : 9
b. Tanks : 4
c. Missile boats: 1
d. HN helicopters: 4
e. SEAL Teams : 11 Teams of unorthodox warfare
f. C-130 Aircraft : 9 routes
