OPERATION EUNAVFOR MED SOPHIA. VISIT OF THE FORCE COMMANDER TO SIGONELLA

Purpose of the visit: to check the operational readiness of foreign personnel deployed at the Sicilian base. Rear AdmiralStefano Turchetto, Force Commander of the operation “EUNAVFOR MED Sophia“, visited at the Airport ofSigonellaItalian personnel and foreign deployments stationed at the base, with the aim of verifying their operational readiness as part of the European Union's naval military mission in the South-Central Mediterranean.

Operation Sophia is aimed at disrupting human trafficking networks, restoring stability andSecurityinLibyaand in North Africa.
Welcoming CA Turchetto, who had taken up his new role that very morning, was the Commander of the41st Wingand of Sigonella Airport, Colonel PilotFrancesco Frarewho subsequently showed the guest the various activities and arrangements adopted by the Sicilian airport for Operation Sophia, with particular reference to the foreign assets, present on the airfield since as early as July 2015, and the Forward Operating Base (FOB) headed by Col. Frare himself.
Following the visit to the base infrastructure and the aircraftP-72Aof the 41st Stormo, the Force Commander took the opportunity to greet the commanders and personnel of the foreign assets participating in the operation from Portugal, Luxembourg, Spain and Poland, along with a tour of the infrastructure. On the sidelines of the event, a group photo was taken with the aircraft and personnel of the foreign units.