Lebanese Army Responds to Internal and External Criticism of Military Performance

Army Commander General Rodolphe Heykal held a meeting in Yarzé, attended by the Chief of Staff, unit commanders, operational battalions, and several officers. The session was dedicated to reviewing current developments in Lebanon and the region, monitoring security and military conditions, and addressing challenges related to the current phase, amid continuing Israeli violations and attacks targeting southern areas, causing further martyrs and destruction, and violating international laws and existing understandings.

During the meeting, Heykal expressed "his appreciation for the various units of the army and its personnel for their continuous efforts and major achievements, particularly regarding maintaining security within Lebanon, monitoring borders, and thwarting smuggling operations."

Heykal also noted that "during this phase, the army relied on self-capabilities and worked to develop them, which contributed to significantly enhancing its potential on all levels, leading to major achievements and successful initiatives that demonstrated the professionalism of military units and progress in operational and logistical capabilities. Among these initiatives is the army's contribution to rehabilitating President René Moawad Airport – Al-Qlaya'at."

He addressed them saying: "The army's message is the national message, and it has no policy except national policy. Our primary goal is to preserve internal unity, stability, civil peace, and safeguard national sovereignty. We work to ensure the success of political authority decisions and extend state authority over all its territories. It is necessary to achieve the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation from occupied Lebanese lands, as its presence remains the fundamental problem and the first danger facing our country."

Heykal added: "Some inside and outside the country criticize the army's work and evaluate its performance without any knowledge of the military institution's operations, attempting to distort its image. This stance contradicts national belonging. The army achieves major accomplishments beyond its capacity, something many armies in the world cannot do. This is due to the resilience of the soldiers, their faith in their army, and the trust of the Lebanese people in it."

He said: "The army will stand as an impregnable barrier against any internal conflict and will not allow the destabilization of Lebanon's security and stability."

Heykal also affirmed that "the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon – UNIFIL is the historical memory of the conflict between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation," considering it the monitor of the implementation of international resolutions, working to document violations and attacks, and serving as a witness to the occupation's crimes, which proves the necessity of its continued presence and mission.