Lebanon bids farewell to slain soldiers in an official ceremony in the Defense ministry in Yarzeh. The coffins of the martyred solders arrived around 10:00 am, where they were received by the Lebanese officials including the top three leaders, the President of the Republic Michel Aoun, the PM Saad el-Hariri and the Speaker of the house Nabih Berri.
The martyrs were abducted in 2014 as the army engaged in a battle against ISIL and Nusra Front (a Qaeda’s branch) in the eastern border town of Arsal.
As the coffins of the soldiers arrived at the Ministry, 21-gun salute was fired in honor of the martyrs. The army commander General Joseph Aoun presented his speech and then gave military awards to the families of soldiers.
The funeral was ended after a brief yet meaningful speech given by the president General Aoun, who hailed the victory of “Fajer el-Jouroud” operation, and stressed the military’s determination to wipe out terror from the country.
The President noted that the battle against ISIL took place in Ras Baalbek and Qaa outskirt because of sovereign decision taken by the government. He then praised the soldiers’ sacrifices, and vowed to confront terrorism and concluded by promising families of the slain soldiers to investigate the Kidnapping and the killing of their sons.
Hala Hayek Najjar
