I address you today, as Beirut is under bombardment, along with its suburbs, our southern regions, and the Bekaa Valley.
More than ten days have passed since this war erupted—a war we have long warned against dragging Lebanon into—and we have sought by all means to avoid it.
This is a war we did not choose; on the contrary, we are working day and night to stop it.
We cannot accept in any form that Lebanon becomes a free-for-all battlefield for others’ conflicts. In this context, His Excellency the President launched a negotiation initiative to pull Lebanon out of the depth of the crisis it has been plunged into.
I have full confidence that all Lebanese citizens expect our army to fully perform its role in asserting the state’s authority across the entire territory. I am certain that Lebanese citizens will not believe the fabricated reports attributed today to the so-called “National Officers,” which some are attempting to circulate.
This is a suspicious statement, entirely devoid of patriotism. It threatens the army’s unity and national role and belongs only in the realm of deceit and blackmail.
I also want to warn citizens against false news, rumors, and misleading statements circulated across media outlets and social media platforms. I strongly condemn the use of hate speech, verbal violence, and sectarian incitement from any source, which threatens our social fabric and internal security.
The current stage our country is going through is critical and requires vigilance and wisdom in expressing our positions and feelings in a way that protects the country from the dangers of destructive division.
In this context, I wish to emphasize that freedom of expression is guaranteed in the Constitution and the laws and forms one of the foundations of our national life.
However, there will be no leniency for those who hide behind it to sow hatred or discord—they will face judicial accountability.
To the hundreds of thousands of our people in the south, Bekaa, and suburbs who were forced to leave their homes and land in search of safety, I repeat: all of Lebanon is your home, and the state stands by your side.
Over the past days, we have worked to secure and prepare shelter centers in all regions, yet we fully recognize that whatever we can provide, however much, cannot replace your homes or the beloved land you were forced to leave.
Rest assured, we are working around the clock to stop this war and enable you to return to your homes as quickly as possible, safely and with dignity.
To all Lebanese citizens, I say that I respect and understand the concern many of you feel regarding the country’s future. You are also paying, albeit indirectly, the price of a war you did not choose.
I understand your anxieties and reaffirm that we will not back down from restoring the state’s authority over decisions of war and peace and ending this new adventure of backing parties that has yielded nothing but more casualties, destruction, and displacement.
I again extend my gratitude to all of you for welcoming your displaced brothers and sisters, who, like you, are victims of a reality they did not help create and were not consulted on.
Finally, my deepest appreciation goes to the sisterly and friendly countries that have stood with us and swiftly provided humanitarian aid and necessary support to alleviate the suffering of our people.
May God protect Lebanon and its people.
