The Commander of the Lebanese Army, General Joseph Aoun, warned that the continued deterioration of the economic situation will lead to the collapse of all institutions, including the military, during an international conference to support the army, coinciding with a general strike across the country.
Aoun said in a speech during the conference – which was held yesterday, Thursday, hypothetically, under French auspices – that the Lebanese army is the only institution that is still cohesive, and that it is the guarantor of security and stability in Lebanon.
During the international conference – called by France and supported by the United Nations and Italy, and in which 20 countries participated – Joseph Aoun said that the military institution needs support and assistance, to be able to carry out its tasks in light of the economic crisis.
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In turn, the Minister of Defense in the caretaker government, Zina Aker, said that the army is suffering under the same burden with the Lebanese people, and it needs effective support in order to continue to perform its tasks, considering that the army “constitutes a guarantee for Lebanon’s stability and the security of the Lebanese.”
For her part, French Defense Minister Florence Parly said during the conference that “everyone is interested in the Lebanese army remaining able to carry out its tasks in maintaining security and stability.”
He also called on Italian Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini to respond to the needs of the Lebanese army by securing the requirements of basic support for it.
The Special Coordinator of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Lebanon, Ioana Frontka, stressed that the goal of the conference is to support the Lebanese army in order to remain cohesive and effective, and demanded that its necessary needs be met.
Last March, the commander of the Lebanese army launched a cry in the face of his country’s politicians in light of a stifling political and economic crisis, and asked, “Where are we going? What do you intend to do? Do you want an army or not?”
After this appeal, the Lebanese army received medical and food aid from the armies of other countries, including the United States, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan.
general strike
Yesterday, Thursday, Lebanon witnessed a strike in protest against the deteriorating economic and social conditions in the country, as institutions, government departments and banks closed their doors.
And the official Lebanese news agency reported that young men blocked the southern entrance to the capital, Beirut, with burning tires, which led to great crowding, and protesters blocked several roads in Tripoli (North) and Bekaa (West) with obstacles and cars.
These moves came in response to the call of the General Labor Union, and amid the support and participation of various parties, to demand the speedy formation of a “salvation” government to get the country out of its crises, and to denounce the deteriorating economic conditions.
As a result of political differences, Lebanon is unable to form a government to replace the current caretaker government headed by Hassan Diab, which resigned on August 10, 2020, 6 days after a catastrophic explosion in the port of Beirut.
Lebanon has been suffering for about a year and a half from the worst economic crisis since the end of the civil war in 1990, which led to a financial collapse and imposed severe restrictions on depositors’ money in local banks.