Lebanese Army commander Gen. Joseph Aoun. (Credit: Lebanese Army)
BEIRUT — Lebanese Army commander Gen. Joseph Aoun praised his troops' “dedication to prevent Israel from achieving its aspirations" in Lebanon on Tuesday, one day before May 25, on which Liberation Day is celebrated in Lebanon, commemorating the Israeli army’s withdrawal from South Lebanon in 2000.
Here’s what we know:
• "May 25, 2000, remains a remarkable milestone in our nation's history, as well as a significant milestone in the annals of victory," the army chief said in a message to his troops released Tuesday on the Lebanese Army’s website. "The Lebanese were able, thanks to their fight, their will and their determination, to expel the Israeli enemy from their land and to shatter the myth of its military superiority,” he continued.
• Joseph Aoun addressed his troops saying “you are and you will remain the champions of determination and will.” The liberation "would not have been possible without your maintenance of internal stability, civil peace, common life and the rallying of the Lebanese around their army, '' he said. “You devote yourself to our right to fight against Israeli aggression and to prevent Israel from realizing its aspirations on our territory and on our offshore resources,” he added.”
• The commander-in-chief of the army also affirmed the cooperation between his troops and those of the United Nations in southern Lebanon, "to apply resolution 1701" of the UN Security Council, which ceased fire between Lebanon and Israel following the July War in 2006. In southern Lebanon, the Lebanese army collaborates with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, which was established in 1978 by the UN.