Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji stressed on Thursday that the criticism and praise issued against the army by various political sides will not affect the unity of the institution or the morale of its troops.

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji stressed on Thursday that the criticism and praise issued against the army by various political sides will not affect the unity of the institution or the morale of its troops, local Naharnet news website reported.

He said before the Army Command and top officers: “We will no longer remain silent over any verbal, media, or moral attack.”

He stated that political figures are making the attacks out of political or electoral purposes.

“The army has long maintained silence out of its keenness to prevent the institution from being dragged into pointless debates, however due to the incitement against officers and soldiers, the army will no longer remain silent against any attack,” declared Qahwaji.

“The army is keen against getting embroiled in internal disputes because it is too busy focusing on greater issues in light of the dangerous regional developments and constant fears of an Israeli assault against Lebanon,” he stressed.

In addition, he said that the army “will never alter its convictions and national role.”

On the regional situation, Qahwaji remarked: “These developments, especially those in Syria, require the army to exert exceptional efforts to overcome this critical phase with as little damage as possible, in particular because it is one of the primary powers concerned with averting the repercussions of these events.”

The army commander stressed the importance of exercising caution while defending Lebanon’s southern border against the Zionist entity and controlling the border with Syria in a manner that would preserve the security of the residents of those areas.

Qahwaji stressed the need to “immediately retaliate against any attack against the army, regardless of who launched the assault.”