The Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Army, General Joseph Aoun. (Credit: Lebanese Army)
The commander-in-chief of the Lebanese army, General Joseph Aoun, on Thursday, called for “united efforts” in the face of the “exceptional circumstances” facing Lebanon, which lives to the rhythm of daily clashes between Hezbollah and Israel along its southern border and sometimes beyond, and where a political crisis drags on.
Joseph Aoun made his speech as part of his “order of the day” to the troops, on the occasion of the “Resistance and Liberation” holiday, which celebrates the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 on May 25.
“The exceptional circumstances require everyone to unite their efforts, get out of narrow calculations and remain responsible because this is the only way to move our country and its institutions forward,” said the Commander-in-Chief. He deplored the fact that the 24th anniversary of this day comes “at a time when Lebanon is suffering daily attacks and violations of its sovereignty by the Israeli enemy.” Believing that these clashes “surpass those that preceded them in terms of destruction and casualties,” he recalled that they come in the context of a long history of “hostile operations committed by the enemy in recent decades.”
Support in the face of challenges
Since Oct. 8, 2023, cross-border clashes have killed 415 people, including 313 Hezbollah members, 62 civilians and three journalists. Two Lebanese soldiers have also been killed in recent months, but the army is not involved in the fighting.
In his speech, General Aoun also highlighted the “exceptional support initiatives” of several countries, which have helped the army to “face up to its challenges” at a time when the financial and economic crisis has had a heavy impact on the troops' work.
Since the start of the fighting, a number of officials and politicians have called on the international community to step up its support for the army, so that it can be deployed in southern Lebanon in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701. This text, adopted to put an end to the July 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, explicitly empowers the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese army to operate and maintain peace along the so-called Blue Line, which demarcates the border with Israel. It also provides for Hezbollah to be kept away from the border in exchange for Israel's respect for Lebanese sovereignty.
This article originally appeared in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.