Aoun: The next phase will require additional efforts to strengthen security in Lebanon

BEIRUT – President Joseph Aoun said on Friday that “additional efforts” would be needed to “reinforce the security and stability” required for "the next phase," during a security meeting attended by Lebanese Army chief Rodolph Haykal, Defense Minister Michel Menassah and Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar.

The statement by the Lebanese Presidency on X did not mention whether Aoun was referring to the second phase of the army's plan to establish a monopoly on arms. The army said it had completed the plan's first phase, which covered the area south of the Litani River, extending more than 30 kilometers from the border with Israel.

Last week, the Cabinet tasked the military with preparing for the second phase of this plan, involving the region between the Litani and Awali rivers, with details to be presented to the government in February. Hezbollah currently refuses to disarm nationwide as long as Israeli attacks and occupation of Lebanon continue.

Military salaries

Aoun also requested that security services “prepare detailed reports of their needs" ahead of the Paris conference scheduled for March 5, "to ensure its objectives are met.”

Need the context?

International conference for Lebanese Army set for March 5 in Paris

An international conference, led by the United States, in support of the Lebanese Army, is planned for March 5 in Paris. It will be the first since the one held in Paris in October 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. Nearly one billion euros was raised then.

Separately, Aoun said that the Cabinet “is in the midst of reviewing increases in military salaries, as is the case for public sector employees.” He asked that “Ministers Menassah and Hajjar prepare the necessary studies to review military salaries and allowances.”

The Lebanese Army is among the public institutions most affected since the 2019 economic and financial crisis, with soldiers having seen a sharp decline in their incomes. Despite improvement in recent years, its salaries still barely reach $400 per month.

Aoun also praised “the existing cooperation and coordination between security forces at all levels,” emphasizing the importance of “maintaining a high level of readiness, ensuring rigorous follow-up and providing the necessary information for proper security operations.”