UNITED NATIONS, July 12 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Maj. Gen. Stefano Del Col of Italy as head of mission and force commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Guterres' press office said Thursday.

Maj. Gen. Del Col succeeds Maj. Gen. Michael Beary of Ireland, who will complete his assignment on Aug. 7, 2018.

Maj. Gen. Del Col has had a long and distinguished career in the Italian army. He also has extensive international operational experience, including in Kosovo, Lebanon and Libya, said the press office.

UNIFIL was first deployed in 1978 to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon after an Israeli invasion, restore international peace and security, and help the government of Lebanon restore its effective authority in the area. Its mandate was expanded in 2006.