Spanish King Juan Carlos arrived today in Beirut on a two-day visit to Lebanon during which he will inspect Spanish troops serving with UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, according to dpa. The king is accompanied by Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos. Juan Carlos will be hosted by President Michel Suleiman at a state dinner held in his honor, later Monday. The trip by King Juan Carlos comes after the UN Spanish battalion took command of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), from the Italians last month. According to the Lebanese Central News Agency the king's visit to Lebanon is not a state visit, but a trip to inspect his country's troops in southern Lebanon. The Spanish king is expected to pay a 3-day state visit to Lebanon along with his wife Queen Sofia in July or ultimately by September, according to the news agency. UNIFIL currently has 13,000 troops from 29 countries. Italy has the largest contingent with 2,500 soldiers, while Spain contributes 1,100 soldiers. The main task of the peacekeepers is to monitor a ceasefire at the Lebanese-Israel border.
