President Aoun honors Tueni and al-Hajj, linking their assassinations to Lebanon’s sovereignty struggle

President Joseph Aoun said that Friday marks 20 years since the assassination of Gebran Tueni and 18 years since the assassination of Major General François al-Hajj.

In a statement, he said: “The same day — as if bearing the same signature of the killer, or because the target was the nation itself. Two martyrs who embody Lebanon’s anthem: ‘Our sword and our pen.’”

He added: “Gebran’s pen was the word of truth. François’ sword was the force that defends that truth. Gebran was the uncompromising voice of freedom — a voice that cannot be silenced or forgotten. And François, the son of an institution that will forever stand for honor, sacrifice, and loyalty, defending our flag and protecting our homeland and our people.”

Aoun said, “Our consolation, after all these years, is that Gebran’s cry was heard, and his words came true: no guardianship, no occupation, and no authority on our land except that of the Lebanese state alone.”

He noted that “the sacrifice of François and his fellow heroes has borne fruit — an army that extends its authority day by day, one step and one inch at a time, in steady strides that do not retreat or slow down, despite the claims, posturing, and denial of others.”

He stressed that “our duty toward the sacrifices of Gebran, François, and all the martyrs is to remember — and to act — knowing that the purpose of public service is the good of all people, not the protection of political power.”

He added that “the foundation of national struggle is to sacrifice for Lebanon and its people, not to sacrifice our people for our seats and interests.”

Aoun concluded: “This is the pledge we made to Gebran, François, their companions, and to Lebanon and the Lebanese — forever and ever. Amen.”