Army Commander: The Presidency Does Not Concern Me and I Haven't Discussed It with Anyone

Army Commander General Joseph Aoun announced that "the issue of the presidency does not concern me or matter to me, and no one has discussed it with me nor have I discussed it with anyone." During his meeting with a delegation from the Press Syndicate led by Captain Aouni El-Kak, General Aoun pointed out that smuggling is currently under control, reaching a level of 85%. He stated, "The borders are vast, open, and intertwined, and we do not have the logistical means to control them completely," emphasizing that controlling smuggling is a shared responsibility that starts with the citizen, passing through municipalities and official administrations all the way to the army. In response to a question, the Army Commander stressed that "there is no intention or effort from the army to enter the Ain al-Hilweh camp, and we have taken all precautions and deployed military forces around the camp to prevent the fighting from spreading outside." The Army Commander focused on security during the meeting, stating, "Our priority is security, and we work day and night to maintain it, as weapons are widespread and uncontrolled, and the judiciary does not assist us in controlling those who are unruly and committing offenses." Regarding the southern land borders, the Army Commander spoke about what he described as "American interest in demarcating these borders."