A statement was issued by the Presidency of the Republic following the security meeting chaired by President Joseph Aoun, and delivered by the presidential spokesperson, Najat Charafeddine:
President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, chaired a security meeting late this morning dedicated to discussing the security situation in the country in light of the ongoing Israeli attacks and their repercussions on various levels.
The meeting was attended by Minister of National Defense Major General Michel Mansi, Minister of Interior and Municipalities Ahmad Hajjar, Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal, Director General of the Internal Security Forces Major General Raed Abdallah, Director General of General Security Major General Hassan Chkeir, Director General of State Security Major General Edgar Lawandos and his deputy Brigadier General Morshed Hajj Suleiman, Director of Army Intelligence Brigadier General Antoine Kahwaji, Head of the Information Branch of the Internal Security Forces Brigadier General Mahmoud Kobrussi, and Head of Information at General Security Brigadier General Tony Sayegh.
During the meeting, military and security leaders presented available reports on the situation across various Lebanese regions amid the expansion of Israeli attacks from the south to the Bekaa, reaching Beirut and its southern suburbs, and the resulting casualties, injuries, displacement of residents, and destruction of property. The participants also reviewed the situation along the Lebanese-Syrian border and the ongoing coordination with Syrian authorities to maintain stability there.
The meeting further addressed the situation of Syrian refugees following the return of approximately 100,000 of them to Syria, as well as the facilities provided by General Security to facilitate their return.
Discussions also covered the measures to be adopted during the upcoming holiday period, particularly in areas near places of worship.
President Aoun stressed the full readiness of the military and security forces, calling for a national political discourse focused on unity, solidarity among the Lebanese, and the rejection of division, sectarian incitement, and strife. He also urged that this approach extend to the media and social media platforms, given their important role under current circumstances.
The President emphasized the need for governors, district commissioners, and municipalities to fully carry out their duties in coordination with security agencies. He highlighted the necessity of securing additional shelters for those forcibly displaced from their towns and villages and ensuring adequate security protection for these centers, while safeguarding the dignity of every citizen and resident within the framework of applicable laws. He also stressed the importance of monitoring prices and combating monopolies.
President Aoun concluded that this phase requires close follow-up and a rise to the level of national responsibility, away from personal interests and narrow considerations.
