Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Tuesday affirmed that “the Lebanese Army is the pillar of the country’s national structure,” noting that “all eyes are directed today towards the Lebanese Army — whether internally or externally.”

The Prime Minister’s words came during a surprise visit he paid to South Lebanon earlier on Tuesday in the company of Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun.

The pair inspected the Western Sector in the southern region and closely followed up on the latest developments, as well as on the tasks that the Lebanese Army has been carrying out in cooperation with UNIFIL forces.

Mikati and Aoun also inspected UNIFIL’s Naqoura-based headquarters and met with UNIFIL Commander, Major General Aroldo Lazaro.

“We’re here on a visit to our beloved south, which is paying today the price of defending the entire nation against a usurping entity that knows no mercy. We’re here to affirm Lebanon’s respect for all resolutions of international legitimacy and its commitment to implementing UN Security Council Resolution No. 1701," Mikati said.

The Prime Minister praised UNIFIL’s role in maintaining stability in south Lebanon “in full cooperation and coordination with the Lebanese Army.”

He denounced “using the logic of force in the face of what’s deemed righteous,” calling for a return to the Charter of the United Nations and the Charter of Human Rights.

The Prime Minister expressed his deep appreciation for “the army’s sacrifices in defense of Lebanon, especially in light of the current exceptional conditions along the southern border and the repeated attacks by the Israeli enemy.”

“Our choice is peace and our culture is that of peace based on truth, justice, the international law, and the United Nations resolutions,” Mikati concluded. 

For his part, the Army Commander stressed that “defending Lebanon is a natural and legitimate duty in the face of the looming dangers, most notably the Israeli enemy.”

“The military establishment is following up on developments along the southern border,” the Army Commander said, pointing to "the Army’s solid will and its belief in the sanctity of it mission without hesitation.”

General Aoun pointed out "the necessity of continuing close coordination between the army and UNIFIL within the framework of International Resolution 1701."