President Joseph Aoun (center) alongside the Interior Minister (left) Ahmad Hajjar and the Director-General of the Internal Security Forces (ISF), Raed Abdallah, on April 3, 2025. (Credit: NNA)
President Joseph Aoun on Thursday called on the Internal Security Forces (ISF) and General Security (GS), during a tour of the headquarters of these security institutions, not to be influenced by political and sectarian interference and to serve Lebanon's interests.
From the headquarters of the ISF Directorate General, Aoun urged its members to "perform their duties ethically, without being affected by political pressures or sectarian or confessional interference ... and to serve the interests of the ISF and the country," according to remarks reported by the state-run National News Agency (NNA). "I will protect you in case of interference, as it concerns your dignity. I do not accept that you are dependent on anyone; fulfill solely Lebanon's interests and enforce the laws."
The president also called on the police to restore the prestige the institution once enjoyed.
"It is forbidden to compromise it, it is your responsibility. We do not want to repeat the situation we were in recently," he said.
'Lebanon's interest at the forefront'
For his part, Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar hoped that the ISF's situation would improve and that its members "will fulfill the tasks assigned to them."
During a visit to General Security headquarters, Aoun told its director, Hassan Choucair, and the officers to "refer only to their conscience, military honor, and the country's interests, and not to heed interference, whether political or sectarian, especially on the eve of electoral elections."
"You must reject any request or intervention outside the country's interest and ensure that people get used to respecting the law and know that any request outside the law will not be accepted," he stated. "Parties are interested in their own interests, sects are also interested, but your interest must be Lebanon."
"Put the country's interest at the forefront and do not satisfy anyone else. We have a very great opportunity that we must seize at all levels, and we must show people that we are mature enough to build the state and that we will do it," Aoun added.
