BEIRUT, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese army commander Gen. Joseph Aoun on Wednesday called on soldiers to remain steadfast in fending off Israeli aggression and vigilant in the war against terror.
On the occasion of the 17th anniversary for the liberation of South Lebanon, the army chief urged soldiers to remain "ready to challenge Israeli threats and committed to the United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 in cooperation with the international peacekeeping force."
He also called on soldiers to remain vigilant and ready to "continue the battle against terror and seek to eradicate its threats permanently."
"We are capable and determined," he said. Aoun vowed to exert efforts to secure the release of the Daesh abducted Lebanese soldiers.
Nine soldiers have been held captive since Daesh, along with the al-Qaida linked al-Nusra Front briefly overran the northeast border town of Arsal in August 2014.
More than 30 soldiers and policemen were initially captured but most were released later. Some were killed in captivity and nine army personnel are still being held by Daesh.
Lebanon's "Resistance and Liberation Day" commemorates Israeli army's withdrawal from South Lebanon in May 2000 after 22 years of occupation.
