The Army Commander inaugurates a road network in Al Hermel and visits a number of military outposts

The Lebanese Army Commander in Chief, General Joseph Aoun, inaugurated a road network in the outskirts of the Hermel region, which included the roads of the outposts of Wadi Fisan, Mrah al-Shaab, Qunafid, and Harf Al-Samaqa. General Aoun unveiled a memorial in each of these outposts, in the presence of the Governor of Baalbek Hermel, Bashir Khodor, and a number of prominent figures from the region.

The inaugurated roads connect the aforementioned outposts with each other, facilitate combating smuggling of people, goods and contraband, and allow citizens’ access to their lands.

General Aoun also visited the Mrah Al-Shaab and Harf Al-Samaqa outposts, where he was briefed on the measures taken to monitor and control the borders. He met with the troops and praised their will, faith, determination and professionalism in performing their mission despite the great difficulties resulting from the weather and the nature of the land, considering that the security of the nation is due in mainly to border security.

He addressed them by saying: “You are the watchful eyes of Lebanon, and your mission here is sacred. Before the Army was deployed at the border, it was open to the smuggling of drugs and weapons and the passage of terrorists, but today it is largely controlled thanks to the military units deployed here. The Command is aware of the magnitude of your achievements and sacrifices and seeks to improve your service and living conditions through various available means, and thanks to you, history will remember that the Army has saved Lebanon.”

General Aoun also visited Sheikh Yassin Ali Jaafar, and met with a number of prominent figures in the region, including religious clerics, mayors, clan leaders, and martyrs’ families. He thanked them for the good reception and love they had given for the Army, stressing that the clans of the region are an example of moral generosity, and that they are innocent of criminals and outlaws who try to take refuge in their clans. He also pointed out that the people of the Baalbek Hermel region offered their sons to serve in the military institution, and many of them fell martyrs and wounded.

He added: "The army is exerting its maximum effort to implement projects that facilitate the lives of the residents in this area through aid provided by the Lebanese people and friendly countries of Lebanon as part of its developmental mission, in addition to its main duty of maintaining security and stability. The roads that we inaugurated today were completed thanks to assistance from the American authorities and Lebanese supporters of the military institution."

These various forms of assistance have enabled the army to continue and thus contributed to the nation's survival. We hear some skeptical voices questioning the role of the army in protecting the borders based on well-known political positions. We have not seen these individuals actively supporting the army; rather, they attempt to hinder its work and raise suspicions about it. We have not seen their active participation in addressing the Syrian displacement crisis. We tell them that we continue because our goal is the nation and its interests, while their goal is their personal interests. We die for the nation to live, while you sacrifice the nation for your own interests.

He emphasized that the displacement of Syrians represents an existential threat that endangers Lebanon and its people, and it must be treated at the individual and institutional levels. He stated, "The army is far from being racist, and it prioritizes human rights and places them at the core of its mission. However, these rights exist to preserve human dignity, not to destroy society."

On the other hand, the Governor of Baalbek Hermel expressed gratitude to the army for its sacrifices and efforts aimed at restoring security and safeguarding civil peace. These efforts have created the conditions for an active tourist season this year.

He stated, "Many have tried to sow seeds of discord between the army and the tribes of Baalbek Hermel, but they have forgotten that the tribes have contributed their finest sons to the military institution, and no one can surpass their love for the army. I renew my gratitude to the army for its efforts within the governorate to combat smuggling and human trafficking, as well as its honorable performance in various regions of Lebanon."

He also appreciated the army's initiative to open the roads, considering that the path of development begins with the development of roads. He believes that these roads embody the role of the military institution in bringing Lebanese people closer together by connecting different regions and governorates to each other.