The Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, opened the photo exhibition "Will to Endure" in Yarzeh on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the army, attended by Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Minister of Interior and Municipalities Bassam Mawlawi, Chairman of the Parliamentary Defense Committee MP Jihad al-Samad, the UN Special Coordinator in Lebanon Joanna Wronecka, and the Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Major General Arouldo Lazaro. During the visit, Prime Minister Najib Mikati praised the army on its anniversary, stating, "The national loyalty of the army is fundamental, and this ensures that the nation will remain well despite the difficulties it faces."
He added, "The government is working in cooperation with the army's leadership to take all possible steps to help the army overcome this difficult phase, as this is a fundamental principle for protecting Lebanon and its people and safeguarding our country from threats."
Army Commander General Joseph Aoun noted that "the successive crises our nation is experiencing have affected the army, and what we are facing is tougher than any military battle the army personnel and their officers might lead," emphasizing that "the internal crisis requires wisdom, awareness, and discipline. The decline in salary value has impacted our military personnel amidst the increased demands to maintain security, and I have not allowed any harm to the morale of the army's members, nor will I."
He stated, "Our duty has been and will remain to prevent any disturbance of stability and civil peace, no matter the sacrifices. We want our people to enjoy security and safety, and we want to reassure expatriates and tourists." He continued, "On this day, we remember the martyrs of the catastrophic port explosion and all the injured, including military martyrs and injured persons, with the hope that the Lebanese people will heal from all the crises that surround and pursue them."
