Gen. Joseph Aoun Hails Army's Efforts, Determined to Bring Kidnapped Soldiers Home

Army Commander General Jospeh Aoun hailed the army's relentless efforts to confront terrorism and the Israeli army, vowing determination to unveil the fate of the soldiers abducted in 2014.

In his Order of the Day addressing the army on the occasion of Resistance and Liberation Day, Aoun said: “The Lebanese are watching you on the homeland borders defending your land and people against the Israeli enemy and terrorism.

“You have been up to the challenges that faced the country. The Israeli daily threats have failed to weaken your determination, and the attacks of terrorist groups failed to undermine your firmness to confront them and paralyze their capabilities through pre-emptive operations directed against their leaders," he said.

Aoun urged vigilance and “full preparedness to confront the Israeli enemy and its schemes against our land, people and natural resources.”

He stressed commitment to UN Resolution 1701 “and its implementation in close cooperation with the international forces."

Resolution 1701, which ended the Hizbullah-Israel war in 2006, expanded the mandate of U.N. troops in the South, which was originally formed in 1978 after the outbreak of Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war.

It imposed a strict embargo on weapons destined for Lebanese or foreign militias in Lebanon, and pressed Israel to end violations of Lebanon's airspace and to withdraw from northern Ghajar.

The Gen. stressed determination to “use all available means to find out the fate of abducted soldiers and bring them back to their families and institution.”

Militants from the Islamic State group and al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front overran Arsal in August 2014 and abducted several servicemen.

While al-Nusra Front freed 16 servicemen in exchange for Islamist prisoners, there are no news on nine other hostages taken by the IS.

The outskirts of Arsal and other towns bordering Syria continue to witness sporadic clashes between the army and the jihadists.

Resistance and Liberation Day falls on May 25 and marks the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon in 2000 following an occupation of 22 years.