President Joseph Aoun marked General Security’s 81st anniversary by paying tribute to the agency’s fallen members and praising its personnel for their resilience and commitment to Lebanon.

“I came here to bow before the martyrs of General Security and the sacrifices they made. I’m not here to boost your morale, but to draw strength from you,” Aoun said.

Aoun said a successful leader is one who rises to the occasion in difficult times, praising General Security personnel for preserving human dignity despite the challenges they face.

“You uphold human dignity through your work because you believe in the institution and in Lebanon,” he said.

Aoun said he had come to “thank you from the bottom of my heart and pay tribute to your achievements,” adding that General Security personnel were “more than capable of rising to the challenges you face.”

“I’m here to stand by you,” he said, urging them not to be affected by criticism or comments on social media. Referring to some of their critics as “trivial people,” Aoun said, “You are getting the better of them.”

He also said Lebanon was facing an internal struggle, not only a conflict with Israel.

“Whatever you do, we will keep moving forward, not for your sake, but for the sake of the people,” Aoun said.