On the occasion of the seventy-ninth Independence Day, Army Commander General Joseph Aoun addressed the military with the following message: "O military personnel, we celebrate the seventy-ninth Independence Day as our nation faces exceptional circumstances that require everyone—officials and citizens—to be aware, wise, responsible, and cooperative for the higher national interest, while awaiting the stabilization of the political situation and the restoration of institutional regularity. Independence is the fruit of the honorable struggle that the Lebanese people have waged, as well as the result of the existential challenges they have faced and overcome through their unity and determination, leading to the establishment of a nation on solid foundations; therefore, we must preserve and protect it.
O military personnel, the achievement of the maritime border demarcation file represents a ray of hope for our country and an important step toward recovering from its current crisis by investing a crucial part of its natural wealth. This achievement requires the state's institutions to protect and accompany it for the benefit of the nation and the Lebanese people. While we await that, and with the country entering a presidential vacuum and the escalation of political tensions, maintaining security and stability remains our top priority. We will not allow any infringement on civil peace nor the destabilization of the situation for any purposes. Our mission has been and will remain to protect Lebanon and its people and land.
O military personnel, you prove day after day that you are a rare model among the world's armies, for seldom does an army face so many challenges within a few years and remain at the highest levels of readiness, discipline, dedication, and commitment. You have courageously and silently faced all campaigns of slander despite the economic and living conditions you are experiencing, and you have upheld your integrity in dealing with all the events and incidents that our country has witnessed. With your oath and vigilance, you have protected Lebanon and continue to do so until the last drop of blood in your veins. All of this is alongside your primary mission of confronting the Israeli enemy and its ambitions on one side, as well as terrorism and its destructive schemes on the other.
Your eyes are on the borders as well as on the internal front, and you continue to carry out your missions in cooperation and coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon to maintain stability in the south. O military personnel, armies are built for difficult times. The strength of Lebanon and its unity come from your strength. Know that the trust of the Lebanese people and the international community in you is the brightest proof of your important role; do not weaken in the face of dangers, and do not heed the campaigns of slander and false accusations.
On the anniversary of our nation's independence, we renew our commitment to our oath to protect and defend it. This nation, which has suffered many challenges and wars throughout its history, always rises again because its people, regardless of their backgrounds, refuse to surrender, and because its army is committed to the values of honor, sacrifice, and loyalty. Through willpower, difficulties are overcome and the nation triumphs."
