General Diodato Abagnara, then commander of the western sector of UNIFIL, during a meeting with a women's football team from southern Lebanon, in Tyr Debba, on March 26, 2019. (Photo taken from the UNIFIL website)
The U.N. 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 announcement was made by U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, who said that Secretary-General António Guterres chose General Abagnara to succeed Spanish Lieutenant-General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz, who is stepping down after leading the mission amid a particularly tense time. Guterres expressed his gratitude for his commitment and leadership.
Knowledge of Lebanon
General Abagnara, with more than 36 years of service in the Italian armed forces, is well acquainted with the U.N. mission in Lebanon. He commanded the UNIFIL Western Sector between 2018 and 2019 and recently chaired the Military Technical Committee for Lebanon (MTC4L), responsible for coordination with the Lebanese Army.
He also held several command and strategic planning positions, including as head of the personnel division at the defense staff, brigade commander, and special adviser to the chief of staff.
He holds of four degrees in political science, international relations, business management, and strategic sciences as well as six master's degrees, including in law, cybersecurity, intelligence, and digital transformation leadership. Abagnara also speaks Italian, English, French, and Spanish.
His appointment comes as UNIFIL attempts to maintain stability in southern Lebanon. The cease-fire reached on Nov. 27, 2024, after more than a year of war between Israel and Hezbollah remains fragile, with the Israeli army conducting near-daily strikes in Lebanon and maintaining a presence in five points it considers "strategic." Last Thursday, Lázaro stated that "the situation along the Blue Line remains tense and unpredictable, with repeated violations and risks of escalation with unforeseeable consequences."