Aoun: Unjustified attacks on army will have no impact on its performance

BEIRUT — President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday condemned what he called a campaign of “unjustified attacks” targeting the Lebanese Army and its leadership, following remarks by Commander-in-Chief Rodolph Haykal on Hezbollah’s disarmament.

Speaking during a visit to Defense Minister Michel Menassah in Yarze, Aoun, a former army commander himself, said such campaigns “will have no impact on the performance” of the troops.

“The army is a national institution serving the interests of Lebanon and the Lebanese, not the private interests of parties or communities, but solely the nation,” Aoun said, according to the official presidential website. He described the military as “the symbol of honor, sacrifice and loyalty toward all of Lebanon” and reaffirmed that it remains “the national institution that enjoys the trust of the Lebanese.”

Keep the army away from 'political conflicts'

On March 2, after Hezbollah fired six rockets at Israel and a new open-war resumed, the Lebanese government declared the party’s military and security activities illegal. The Cabinet called on the army to implement the plan to monopolize weapons “as soon as possible and by all possible means.”

Later, Haykal said Israeli attacks on Lebanon and its citizens were hindering the army’s ability to carry out the plan. His comments, and his calls to resist attempts to provoke internal discord, drew criticism in Lebanon, with some accusing him of siding with Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, Israel, which has carried out heavy bombardments across Lebanon, delivered a warning over the weekend to Aoun and the Lebanese government, urging the disarmament of Hezbollah or risk “the Lebanese government and all of Lebanon paying the price.”

“If the army were to be shaken, the whole country would be in danger,” Aoun said, stressing that the military “must not become a subject of internal political conflicts.” He promised to provide “a solid bulwark against any attack targeting the military institution or its command.”

The president also urged troops “to let their achievements speak for themselves,” calling the current situation “nothing but a passing cloud that will soon disappear.”

“The army is the guarantor of Lebanon’s unity and stability, and everyone must protect it,” he added.

In Yarze, Aoun’s meetings with military and defense officials focused on the country’s security situation and the conditions of soldiers deployed in southern Lebanon. He was also briefed on the family circumstances of military personnel, particularly those who were forced to leave their homes due to Israeli attacks and relocate to other areas.