President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday defended the Lebanese Armed Forces against what he described as unjustified campaigns targeting the military and its commander, saying the institution serves only the interests of Lebanon and its people and will not be affected by political attacks.

“The Lebanese army is a national institution that serves Lebanon and its people, not any party, faction, or sect, but the nation as a whole,” Aoun said during a visit to the Ministry of Defense and the army’s headquarters in Yarzeh, where he met with senior defense and military officials.

He added that criticism directed at the army and its leadership “will have no impact on the army’s performance, whether at the leadership level or among its soldiers,” warning those behind the campaigns that their efforts would ultimately come to nothing.

The president began his visit with talks with Defense Minister Michel Menassa, during which the two reviewed the country’s general situation and the latest security developments.

He then proceeded to the army command headquarters, where he was received by army chief Rodolphe Haykal in the presence of Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Hassan Audeh, Intelligence Director Brig. Gen. Antoine Kahwaji, and the commander’s office director Brig. Gen. Mansour Zgheib.

During the meeting, Aoun was briefed on the security situation across Lebanon and on the conditions facing soldiers deployed in the country’s south. He also received an update on the family circumstances of military personnel, particularly those who were forced to leave their homes because of Israeli attacks and have since been displaced to other areas.

The president later chaired a broader meeting attended by Menassa, Haykal, members of the Military Council, deputy chiefs of staff, the directors of intelligence and orientation, and several senior officers.

Opening the meeting, Aoun paid tribute to the army’s commander, officers, noncommissioned officers, and soldiers, stressing that the military remains a unifying national institution that enjoys the trust of the Lebanese people. He also praised the sacrifices made by soldiers under difficult circumstances.

He said his visit was meant to express full solidarity with the army and its leadership and to reject campaigns questioning their patriotism.

“The army is not a party to political disputes,” Aoun said, warning against turning the institution into a tool in domestic political quarrels. “The strength of the State begins with the strength of its institutions, and at the forefront of those institutions is the army.”

The president described the accusations directed at the military as coming from “irresponsible people who lack any real sense of national responsibility,” arguing that anyone who truly cares about Lebanon’s sovereignty and interests would not attack the army.

He also challenged critics to explain what support they had provided the military, either morally or financially.

“You go after the army even over the modest salaries its members receive — and then you try to cut them,” he said.

Aoun urged those who criticize the military to travel across the country and see firsthand the difficult conditions under which officers and soldiers live and the sacrifices they make for their country and their families.

“My visit today is to send a clear message to those making these accusations: they are baseless and meaningless. Our soldiers are deeply rooted in their patriotism. Whatever you try to do, this institution is protected by a solid barrier.”

Addressing the officers present, Aoun urged them not to be affected by the criticism.

“Let your achievements speak for you,” he said. “What we are seeing now is just a passing cloud — and like others before it, it will pass.”

He added that the Lebanese people stand behind the army and recognize its efforts, saying that few militaries in the world operate under the same difficult conditions faced by Lebanese soldiers.

“In my view — and I say this objectively — what you are doing goes beyond what would normally be expected,” he said, recalling that he had experienced similar realities during his own military career and continues to witness them today.

Aoun warned that attacks against the army should not affect its performance, urging officers and soldiers to continue carrying out their duties “with integrity and courage.”

“You are stronger than any rumors directed at you, no matter what form they take,” he said, adding that soldiers remain loyal to Lebanon, unlike those who place personal interests first.

He also recalled the events of 1975, noting that the army had been the first institution targeted at the start of the Lebanese civil war.

“If undermining the army is the goal of those attacking you today — whether intentionally or not — they will not succeed,” he said. “In the end, they will get nowhere.”

The president stressed that it is the State’s duty to support the army and its personnel in order to preserve the country, adding that the Lebanese people would ultimately hold accountable those who try to undermine the military.

He warned that any weakening of the army would put the entire country at risk.

“If the army were ever shaken — God forbid — the whole nation would be in danger,” he said, urging soldiers not to listen to those who attempt to mislead them. “I will stand as a firm barrier against any attempt to target this military institution or its leadership.”

Aoun also said that anyone calling for the replacement of the army commander was effectively targeting the institution itself rather than the individual.

“That is unacceptable,” he said, urging officers to maintain their unity and solidarity and to work together “as one team, with one heart and one purpose.”

The president said he remains closely informed about developments within the army through his contacts with the defense minister and the army commander, adding that it was his duty as head of state to stand by the armed forces and defend them.

He emphasized that the institution to which he devoted most of his life serves only Lebanon’s national interests, not those of parties, sects, or individuals.

“You are the ones who determine how the army moves and operates,” he told the officers.

Repeating remarks he had previously made to officers, Aoun added: “You stand for honor. Sacrifice is your calling. And your loyalty is to all of Lebanon.”

He also stressed that the army operates in accordance with the constitution, the law, and the decisions of the political authorities.

The implementation of decisions taken by the Council of Ministers of Lebanon, he said, follows constitutional procedures and the resources available, rejecting attempts to place responsibilities on the military that exceed its capabilities.

Aoun reassured soldiers that the political leadership stands firmly behind them as they carry out their duties “with wisdom and responsibility,” adding that the Lebanese people trust their army and rely on it as the guarantor of the country’s unity and stability.

“Everyone has a duty to protect the army,” he said. “Because protecting the army means protecting Lebanon.”

At the end of the meeting, Menassa thanked the president for his visit and emphasized the unity of the army and the solidarity of its personnel during the current difficult circumstances, saying they would continue to work together in the service of Lebanon.

For his part, Haykal thanked the president for the visit and said the army would act only in the interests of Lebanon and its people.

“We firmly believe in the principles that guide the army, and we will not deviate from them,” he said, adding that those principles have been further reinforced since Aoun assumed the presidency.