President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, on Friday chaired a security meeting at Baabda Palace, attended by Defense Minister Michel Menassa, Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar, Army Commander Rodolph Haykal, and the heads of Lebanon’s security agencies.
At the outset, President Aoun thanked the security services for their efforts over the past year in extending state authority across Lebanese territory and maintaining stability, noting that the recent economic improvement is linked to the security stability achieved. He particularly praised the measures taken during the visit of Pope Leo XIV, which contributed to the success of the visit.
Aoun stressed the importance of continued security readiness, close follow-up, and coordination, underlining that the coming phase requires additional efforts to further consolidate security. He also addressed the difficult living conditions faced by military personnel, noting that the Cabinet is considering improving military salaries in line with public-sector wages, and asked the defense and interior ministers to prepare the necessary studies.
Referring to the international conference to support the Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces, scheduled to be held in Paris on 5 March, the president requested that security agencies prepare detailed reports on their needs to ensure the conference meets its objectives.
Source: NNA