Meeting between the Army Commander in Chief and officers

The Army Commander in Chief General Joseph Aoun held a meeting in Yarzeh with the commanding staff, unit and regiments commanders, field grade and general grade level officers, in the presence of the members of the Military Council. He went through the general situation in Lebanon and the challenges facing the military institution in light of the deteriorating economic situation.

At the outset, General Aoun praised the disciplined and responsible military personnel’s performance despite the challenges they are experiencing, and the multiplicity of tasks during which they proved that they are men of a homeland, deserving praise and appreciation from the Lebanese people and the international community. He said, “You are living in difficult economic circumstances, maybe the worst in Lebanon’s history. But you carry on with your tasks professionally and with discipline to maintain security and stability. This is the sacred task required of us, especially at this stage, allowing political authority to search for solutions needed to get out of this crisis. During the past two years, you have made exceptional efforts under delicate and complex political circumstances. You protected Lebanon’s existence, preserved civil peace, and prevented sedition from rising again.”

He continued, "Lebanon needs us today more than ever. Our mission in defending the homeland is sacred. Our faith is firm and sacrifice is at the core of our motto. The army is a sacrifice, not a job. We act responsibly and stand at the same distance from everyone. We will not allow the security situation to be destabilized or sedition to be awakened. The army is the guarantor for Lebanon and its people, otherwise the armed militias will regain their control."

The Army Commander touched on the deteriorating economic conditions that Lebanon suffers from, specifically the military institution, and said: "There is no doubt that the military institution has been greatly affected by the economic crisis that may be prolonged while awaiting the desired solutions. This is reflected in the social conditions of our soldiers and their families, due to the low value of their salaries and the high cost of fuel and living essentials. At the same time, they are required to carry out many tasks and move to their service centers far from their homes. As soldiers in the institution of honor, sacrifice and loyalty, we must be steadfast in the face of this storm that will inevitably pass. The only option is the army and preserving it is the duty of everyone, including officials. Do not heed the abusive press articles that aim at goals we know the background of. We are proceeding with our duties with conviction and responsibility. Do not believe what is said about the desertion of thousands of soldiers; the number is still acceptable in relation to the situation and the overall number count of the army, and a good part of them have returned to the institution, convinced that the army is the guarantee and salvation, remaining by their side and staying loyal to them throughout their lives".

General Aoun pointed out that the army command understands the suffering of the soldiers and is striving to alleviate it, and that it is currently prioritizing the support of the Military Healthcare in order to continue providing medical services to the soldiers and their families as well as the retired and their families, praising the efforts made by the medical staff recently and the progress witnessed during the past years, which has made the Military Healthcare departments comparable to the most important hospitals. He called on the military personnel, who have not yet received the vaccine, to immediately take it, in order to preserve their safety and the safety of their families.

The army commander dealt with the file of in-kind, food and medical aid received by the military institution from friendly and brotherly countries, and its gradual and just distribution. He considered it a demonstration of confidence in the army's role as the backbone of Lebanon and the guarantor of security and stability. He pointed out that "financial support for the military is the basic requirement of the Army Command, which is what we seek through our communication with these countries and through our visits abroad, and in the hope that the promises we received will be translated into reality. I promise you that I will spare no effort to continue asking for aid for you and for your dignity, because the priority today is to support the military personnel as individuals and to keep the minimum maintenance of weapons, equipment, and vehicles that help us carry out our basic operational tasks.”

General Aoun touched on the file of indirect negotiations with the Israeli enemy to demarcate the maritime borders, stressing that "the army, commissioned by the President of the Republic has fulfilled its national duty to demand our rights in our sea waters, and showed high professionalism and morality during the technical negotiation sessions, based on the provisions of international law and in accordance with the principle of demanding the legal maximum to secure the strongest negotiating position. Today, this file is waiting for the political authority concerning the appropriate decision. We are subject to political authority, because the issue is national and concerns everyone."

The army commander concluded by saying: "Today we are facing a positive station and a new political reality that calls for optimism, which is the formation of the government, from which we, like all the Lebanese, expect to address the economic, financial and life issues. We hope that the military institution, like the rest of the security institutions, be at the center of its concerns, because security and political stability are a prerequisite for investment and foreign help. I assure all the Lebanese that their army, despite the challenges it faces, will remain faithful to its pledge and oath by protecting them, maintaining civil peace stability, in the hope that this crisis will end and the citizens will regain their confidence in their state”.