Adib Noor
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) held a Doa Kesyukuran ceremony yesterday to welcome the return of 30 RBAF personnel who were deployed for 13 months as part of the Malaysian Battalion 850-8 (MALBATT) under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeping mission.
The RBAF contingent, led by Major Zulazri bin Gapor returned to Brunei Darussalam on
December 3, 2021.
The event, held at Surau Ad-Difa’, Bolkiah Garrison were attended by Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof and Commander of the RBAF Major General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin
Haji Sahat.
Service Commanders, RBAF Joint Force Commander, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, officers and personnel of the Ministry of Defence and the RBAF were also present.
The event, which coincided with the ministry and RBAF’s Halaqah Jumaat, began with Sayyidul Istighfar, recitation of verses of Al-Quran, a Tazkirah and Dikir Marhaban.
The ceremony concluded with the recitation of Doa Kesyukuran and Sunat Dhuha prayers.
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi presented certificates to the contingent officers and personnel.
RBAF has participated in UNIFIL peacekeeping missions for more than a decade since 2008 as part of RBAF’s commitment towards international peace and security under the United Nations’ Resolution 1701 (UN Resolution 1701:2006).
According to RBAF, the international mission is in line with the Sultanate’s aspirations highlighted in the Brunei Darussalam Defence White Papers. These peacekeeping missions are an important investment not only for the image of RBAF and the personnel involved but also for the country in the context of defence diplomacy.
On September 3, 2021, RBAF continued its deployment of personnel to the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission under MALBATT 850-9 contingent.
