Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun announced during the inauguration of the Lebanese Navy School building at the Jounieh Naval Base that “the Army is currently tackling the challenge of Syrian displacement on its own, despite all the geographical, logistical, and numerical complexities, and it faces daily suspicious campaigns against it.” He added, “In this context, I commend all our officers and personnel who are putting forth their utmost efforts to mitigate displacement and its repercussions, as well as the naval forces for their efforts in protecting maritime borders and combating illegal migration by sea, despite all the difficulties and limited resources.”
General Aoun made these remarks during the inauguration of the Lebanese Navy School building at the Jounieh Naval Base, which was funded by the German authorities. The event was mainly attended by the Commander of the Navy, General Haytham Dennaweh; the German Ambassador to Lebanon, Kurt Stöckl-Stillfried; the Commander of the German Armed Forces, General Carsten Breuer; and the Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Maritime Task Force, Admiral Michael Busse.
Aoun added, “The Syrian displacement crisis is perhaps one of the most significant challenges that the Army is currently facing, whether it’s infiltrations across land borders or illegal migration by sea. Waves of displacement have increased significantly in recent months, and we have repeatedly warned about it, urging everyone to shoulder their responsibilities from their respective positions.”
He concluded by expressing gratitude once again to Germany and friendly nations for their support of the Army and their trust in its capabilities.
On the other hand, Ambassador Stöckl-Stillfried affirmed the continued cooperation of the German authorities with the Army, especially in enhancing its maritime capabilities, while General Breuer emphasized that the effective cooperation between the German and Lebanese armies achieves positive results and demonstrates their professionalism and strong relationship.
Finally, the attendees toured the building and familiarized themselves with its sections and the workings of the Navy School.
