Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel paid tribute on Monday to the Lebanese soldiers and civilians who stood against the Syrian army on October 13, 1990, marking one of the most painful milestones in Lebanon’s modern history.

In a post on X, Gemayel said the fighters who resisted the Syrian forces at the end of the Lebanese civil war were defending the country’s sovereignty and freedom.

“On October 13, 1990, the heroes of the Lebanese Army and the young men of the ‘Army Supporters’ stood up to Assad’s army in defense of a free Lebanon,” he wrote. "As they could not withstand the Syrian air force, their resistance was crushed, and what followed were 15 years of occupation and 15 years of resistance.”

The Kataeb chief said that the date serves as a reminder of both Lebanon’s resilience and the price it paid for freedom.

“Today, we honor their heroism for the first time since the fall of Lebanon’s enemy. Assad got what he deserved, just as everyone who attacked Lebanon will face their fate. Lebanon shall endure!” Gemayel wrote.

He concluded his post with a salute “to the martyrs and heroes of the Lebanese Army."