Lebanese Army Commander in Chief inaugurates the photo exhibition “Will of Resilience” on the occasion of the 78th Army Day

The Lebanese Army Commander in Chief, General Joseph Aoun, inaugurated the "Will of Resilience" photo exhibition held in Yarzeh on the occasion of the 78th Army Day in the presence of Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Also in attendance were the Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Bassam Mawlawi, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of National Defense, MP Jihad Samad, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Ms. Joanna Wronecka, the Commander of the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL), General Aroldo Lázaro, security officials, official figures, representatives of international organizations, military attachés, and senior Army and UNIFIL officers.
During the visit, Prime Minister Najib Mikati congratulated the Army on its day. He said: "The national loyalty of the Army is the foundation, and this ensures that the country will remain safe, no matter the difficulties it faces."
He added: "The government is cooperating with the Army Command in taking all possible steps to assist the Army in overcoming this difficult phase, which is a fundamental and essential constant for protecting Lebanon, its people, and to safeguard our homeland from risks."
The ceremony began with the Lebanese national anthem, followed by a welcoming speech by the Director of Orientation, Brigadier General Hussein Ghaddar, then a speech by the Army Commander in Chief.
The attendees then toured the exhibition, where they viewed photos that illustrate the diverse tasks and activities carried out by the military institution in the context of defending Lebanon and preserving its security and stability.
Below is the text of the speech of the Army Commander in Chief:
Your Excellency Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and representing the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri
Your Excellences, Ministers and MPs,
Esteemed Heads of security agencies, and Head of Mission and Force Commander of the UNIFIL,
Esteemed Audience,

"Will of Resilience"
A title that summarizes years of challenges the military faced with determination, faith, and perseverance.
It is the will of our troops that is the greatest advantage. It is the will to stand as the most sacred privilege for those heroes who remained unwavering in the face of crisis, complex missions, accusations, and false allegations.
Throughout the years, the army has faced several wars, divisions and fragmentations.  It witnessed the fall of martyrs and wounded soldiers. However, it returned stronger, defending Lebanon and its people, preserving its entity and identity.

Esteemed Audience,
Successive crises in our homeland - political, financial, social, and security - have led to the deterioration of most sectors and the dissolution of most institutions. The most concerning is the immigration of our finest youth due to the loss of confidence and hope in a homeland they had once vaunted about as a model and beacon of the East.
These crises have also affected security institutions, including the Army. What the army faces today is more challenging than any military battle it has fought, for the enemy is apparent and its fighting seems easy. Internal crises and how to confront them amid complications imposed by Lebanon's reality require wisdom, awareness and discipline.
The economic downturn has led to declining salaries and the devaluation of our national currency, which has had a negative impact on the living conditions of our troops, at a time when the current exceptional situation demands double efforts to maintain security and stability.
The morale of our troops has always been fundamental. Their resilience was and remains a top priority. I have never allowed their morale or their livelihood to be touched, and I will not. All efforts are made for them. They stand firm at the southern border facing the Israeli enemy, in collaboration with the UNIFIL. They stand strong at the hills on the eastern and northern borders. They are the defenders of our sea and air borders. They are in every city, town, street, mountain, and plain. They are everywhere and on every grain of soil from our precious land that was enriched with the blood of our comrades who preceded us on the path of martyrdom. They are men of honor, sacrifice and loyalty "without limits".
Our borders stand stable because it is our absolute priority. "Every now and then, our homeland is facing security, social, or individual clashes that sometimes take on sectarian and religious dimensions." Our decision is clear and decisive to prevent any threat to stability and civil peace, whatever the sacrifices or consequences. We want our suffering people to be at least safe, secure, and protected from drugs and terrorism. We want expatriates and tourists to be reassured, because the Lebanese Army is keen on security.
Esteemed Audience,
Every day, we are asked about the secret behind the steadfastness of our troops and the resilience of the Army, given what it has gone through in the past years especially the last four, which were the most challenging and dangerous.
If it were not for the steadfastness of our men, their faith in their homeland, and the sanctity of their mission, the Army would be in a different situation and the country would be in the unknown.
Our resilient heroes know that behind stands a nation that trusts them, embraces them with love and appreciation, and entrusts them with its security.
They know that their command does not leave them vulnerable to destitution and frustration, but instead stands by their side and issues an appeal to supporters inside and outside the country. They answer the call honestly and with enthusiasm, because they are convinced that supporting and fortifying the Army means the survival of Lebanon.
As the Army continues its mission, it will not depart from its oath, and its determination will not be undermined by dubious campaigns targeting it for reasons that include narrow political calculations and legal fabrications.
There is no doubt that these exceptional circumstances we are experiencing require exceptional decisions and measures, and your State knows that. In this context, I thank you, President Mikati, and President Berri for all the support you are providing to the military institution, knowing that it is the guarantor of stability and civil peace. We hope that your efforts continue to fill vacancies in some positions within the institution to ensure its regular work, away from the narrow accounts of some that target the institution with illegal fatwas.
Esteemed Audience,
On this day, we remember the martyrs of the catastrophic port explosion and all the wounded who suffered from it, including military martyrs and wounded, in the hope that the Lebanese people will heal their wounds from all the crises that besiege and pursue them and regain their confidence in the country after the political situation stabilizes, and extract the country from its crisis when honest national intentions are present.
In conclusion, on the 78th Army Day, we wanted this exhibition to shed light on a journey filled with honor, sacrifice and loyalty for a country torn by successive crises. But our pledge to all Lebanese is that no matter how difficult the challenges and adversities, we will never hesitate to fulfill our duty, even to the point of sacrifice.
"Will of Resilience" because it is our conviction.
The army persists. The army stands strong. The Army is safe...
Long live Lebanese Armed Forces, long live Lebanon