Mikati: 'Nothing indicates that Israeli arrogance will have a limit'

BEIRUT — "Nothing indicates that Israeli arrogance will stop at a limit," said Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Friday in a speech addressed to the Lebanese Army chief Joseph Aoun and army personnel at the Army Command Headquarters.

"We are still facing Israeli attacks that have left hundreds of martyrs and wounded, citizens, soldiers, and resistance fighters, and displaced families who lost their homes and had their properties burned," Mikati added.

Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire on an almost daily basis since the opening of a front in southern Lebanon on Oct. 8, 2024, in "solidarity" with Gaza.

“In the face of the systematic and dangerous Israeli escalation, of which we have witnessed bloody chapters during the past few hours, we affirm our right to defend our land, sovereignty and dignity by all available means and we do not hesitate to choose this option, no matter how great the sacrifices,” the caretaker PM said.

The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has reached its peak following the Israeli strike on southern Beirut on Tuesday, which killed a senior Hezbollah military official. Southern Lebanon has been ablaze since Oct. 8, and despite opposition calls for nationwide troop deployment, the region remains embroiled in a bloody conflict with the potential for further escalation.

“We have informed our brotherly and friendly countries that we are advocates of peace and not advocates of war, because we seek permanent stability by recovering the occupied parts of our dear south, and the Israeli enemy’s commitment to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701 with all its provisions, and all Israeli attacks will not be of any use in dissuading us from that,” Mikati said.

“We have welcomed, and continue to welcome, any initiative that achieves what we want in terms of restoring what remains of our occupied land, and strengthening the deployment of the army there in cooperation with international forces, to prevent any violation of our internationally recognized borders,” Mikati added.

Presidential

“If your contribution to the revival of Lebanon is great and essential, it still requires direct and effective follow-up from constitutional institutions. Hence, I reiterate, today in particular, the necessity of electing a president, calling on the honorable representatives to assume their responsibilities and overcome the differences, and consult among themselves through an honest, frank and equal dialogue,” to elect a president, Mikati said.

“There is an urgent need for radical reforms and sustainable solutions that can only be achieved with a president of state who ensures the protection of the system that the Lebanese have accepted and that is based on the principle of separation of powers, their balance and cooperation,” Mikati added.

Lebanon’s presidential vacuum casts a shadow over the military institution. The army chief was due to retire last January, but his term was extended for a year. The issue will arise again next January if a new president, whose signature is required for the appointment of a new commander, is not elected.

Meanwhile, recruiting new officers has been hampered by a long-standing dispute between Defense Minister Maurice Slim, appointed by former President Michel Aoun’s bloc, and Army Chief of Staff General Joseph Aoun. Although the issue was recently resolved in the cabinet, recruitment has not yet been implemented.