King Felipe VI Honors Brigade Aragón I for Humanitarian and Peacekeeping Missions
The Spanish monarch acknowledges the vital role of the Brigade Aragón I in international missions and local disaster response efforts.
On March 25, 2025, King Felipe VI visited Brigade Aragón I in Zaragoza to learn about the unit's daily operations and contributions, particularly in humanitarian missions such as the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the assistance provided to the Valencian community following a severe flood that resulted in over 200 fatalities.
Brigade Aragón I, with its main base in Zaragoza and additional locations in Girona and Barcelona, has been involved in numerous peacekeeping missions since 1992, including operations in the Balkans (Bosnia, Kosovo, and Albania), Afghanistan, Mali, Iraq, and Latvia.
Their latest deployment was in Lebanon, where 650 members of the brigade served for six months.
During the visit, the commander of the Sapper Battalion, Saúl Gordo, expressed pride in their efforts, particularly in Valencia, where the brigade was the first to respond after the flooding.
The battalion operated in areas such as Paiporta, Alfafar, Sedaví, and Catarroja, primarily focusing on debris removal to restore access for other vehicles.
Gordo remarked on the community's warm reception and emphasized the unprecedented nature of the disaster encountered.
King Felipe VI, adorned in military uniform, received military honors, including a 21-gun salute, and reviewed the Honor Squadron of the Pavía Regiment.
He was welcomed by General Guillermo García del Barrio, the brigade commander, and proceeded to inspect various military vehicles and medical assistance stations stationed at the base.
At this event, the king also observed advanced equipment employed by the brigade, such as the Mistral air defense missile system, the Castor combat engineer vehicle, the Leopard 2E tank simulator, and the nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protective suit.
Additionally, the king visited the Logistic Group's facilities, which were deployed to the flood's epicenter to assist in towing vehicles and facilitating transport to more accessible areas.
Following his tour, the monarch met with local government officials, including Jorge Azcón, the President of Aragón. Azcón reiterated support for the upcoming project concerning the 'Aragonese Defense Hub,' initially set to be presented in February alongside Defense Minister Margarita Robles, but postponed due to scheduling conflicts.
He outlined the ongoing discussions around security and defense policy in Spain and Europe, underscoring the project's relevance in the current global context.
Brigade Aragón I, with its main base in Zaragoza and additional locations in Girona and Barcelona, has been involved in numerous peacekeeping missions since 1992, including operations in the Balkans (Bosnia, Kosovo, and Albania), Afghanistan, Mali, Iraq, and Latvia.
Their latest deployment was in Lebanon, where 650 members of the brigade served for six months.
During the visit, the commander of the Sapper Battalion, Saúl Gordo, expressed pride in their efforts, particularly in Valencia, where the brigade was the first to respond after the flooding.
The battalion operated in areas such as Paiporta, Alfafar, Sedaví, and Catarroja, primarily focusing on debris removal to restore access for other vehicles.
Gordo remarked on the community's warm reception and emphasized the unprecedented nature of the disaster encountered.
King Felipe VI, adorned in military uniform, received military honors, including a 21-gun salute, and reviewed the Honor Squadron of the Pavía Regiment.
He was welcomed by General Guillermo García del Barrio, the brigade commander, and proceeded to inspect various military vehicles and medical assistance stations stationed at the base.
At this event, the king also observed advanced equipment employed by the brigade, such as the Mistral air defense missile system, the Castor combat engineer vehicle, the Leopard 2E tank simulator, and the nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protective suit.
Additionally, the king visited the Logistic Group's facilities, which were deployed to the flood's epicenter to assist in towing vehicles and facilitating transport to more accessible areas.
Following his tour, the monarch met with local government officials, including Jorge Azcón, the President of Aragón. Azcón reiterated support for the upcoming project concerning the 'Aragonese Defense Hub,' initially set to be presented in February alongside Defense Minister Margarita Robles, but postponed due to scheduling conflicts.
He outlined the ongoing discussions around security and defense policy in Spain and Europe, underscoring the project's relevance in the current global context.
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