Troop deployment to Lebanon is early test of EU battle-group concept

At last European prevarication over a peacekeeping force for southern Lebanon has ended. The new UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) will be largely composed of Italian, French and Spanish troops. It is expected that up to half of the force will be made up of European troops.

What seemed to act as the turning point may have been assurances given to French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac that his troops would have a ...