A Lebanese soldier on board an armored vehicle in Zawtar Gharbieh, south Lebanon, on July 28, 2026. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient-Le Jour)
BEIRUT — President Joseph Aoun paid tribute on Friday to soldiers killed in the line of duty during the annual commemoration of the Lebanese Army's martyrs, saying that "their memory will guide us in building the nation." His remarks came on the eve of the military's 81st anniversary, as the army faces the sensitive task of deploying to southern Lebanon and disarming Hezbollah in the pilot areas defined under the framework agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel in June.
"We honor the memory of the martyrs of our army, who gave their lives for Lebanon's sovereignty, the unity of its country, and the dignity of its people. These men believed that the homeland was worth the ultimate sacrifice, and thus followed the path of duty without hesitation, writing with their blood the purest pages of heroism and patriotism," Aoun said.
"On this occasion, I tell the families of the martyrs and before all Lebanese that the state remains faithful to its commitment, determined to care for the families of the martyrs and to preserve their memory. Their memory will guide us on our journey toward nation-building and support for its military institution, which embodies the unity of all Lebanese," he added.
"The martyrs of the Lebanese Army are not mere numbers destined to be forgotten, but a living symbol of loyalty and selflessness, an example for every soldier who today wears the military uniform to defend the nation's borders, its institutions, and the security of its citizens. Their memory is a precious legacy, and our gratitude toward them can only be complete by preserving the values for which they died as martyrs: a free, sovereign, and independent Lebanon," the president said.
Aoun, who served as commander-in-chief of the army before becoming president, reiterated his support for the military during his July 22 meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, urging Washington to continue backing what he described as "the only genuine national institution enjoying the confidence of all Lebanese."
The Lebanese Army is set to mark its 81st anniversary on Saturday. Ahead of the occasion, Army Commander General Rodolph Haykal, told troops on Thursday that the military remained "ready to deploy in all occupied areas" once Israeli forces withdraw and praised "unity" that prevails within the troops. His remarks came despite repeated signals from Israel that it does not intend to withdraw in the near or medium term from the more than 600 square kilometers it has occupied since resuming its war with Hezbollah.
Senior officials as well as political and religious figures paid tribute to the Lebanese Army.
In a statement, Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar said “The Lebanese Army is the pillar of the state, the guardian of its sovereignty and the institution around which the Lebanese unite. On this anniversary, we count on its role in extending the state's authority across the entire territory, beginning with the South, and in strengthening security and stability. Salute to the Lebanese Army, the army of the nation.”
Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop of Ferzol, Zahle and the Bekaa, Ibrahim Mikhail Ibrahim, said the army “will remain the unifying national institution around which all Lebanese rally, as well as the main pillar in protecting the homeland and preserving its sovereignty, unity and independence.”
