Aoun, Berri say army 'red line', targeting it 'unacceptable'

President Joseph Aoun said Monday that the army is a red line after some local media outlets accused the army and the security forces of allowing Hezbollah supporters to project images of the group’s former longtime leader on the iconic Raouche rock despite a circular by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam that objected to the planned light show.

Salam issued a circular before the event pointing to "the recent recurrence of the exploitation of national monuments for propaganda purposes and to hold activities in which partisan and political slogans are raised."

He directed public bodies to "strictly prohibit the use of public land and sea areas, archaeological and tourist landmarks, or those that bear a unifying national symbolism before obtaining the necessary licenses and permits from the relevant authorities."

Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar said it was not possible to halt the lighting due to the huge number of supporters who attended the event.

President Aoun for his part said that "national peace is above all considerations" and that it is the duty of the army and security forces to preserve it.

"They are fully committed to achieving this goal," he said, adding that it is unacceptable for anyone to criticize the army and security forces. "They are a red line."

Parliament Speaker and Hezbollah's ally Nabih Berri had also told al-Joumhouria newspaper, in remarks published Monday, that the army is a red line and that its targeting is unacceptable.

"The army is not for one party against the other. The army is for all the Lebanese," he said.