On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of Lebanon's Civil War, President Joseph Aoun made a televised address on Saturday, reflecting on the nation’s turbulent history and the lessons learned from decades of war and instability. Speaking with candor and a sense of urgency, Aoun emphasized the importance of national dialogue, the protection of Lebanon through its State institutions, and the need to avoid repeating past mistakes.

“We must remember the thousands of martyrs who fell from every corner of Lebanon, in every region of the country, since April 13, 1975,” Aoun stated. “The thousands of wounded whose scars remain visible, the thousands of families whose wounds are still not healed, and the missing who, along with their families, will forever remain the permanent victims of the war.”

“Fifty years have passed, and those born on that day have now reached the midpoint of their lives, spent in anxiety, fear, and instability,” he said. “As for those who were waiting, in 1976, to choose their representatives for the first time, they are now in their seventies or beyond, and may not have yet been given the opportunity to choose the Lebanon they want.”

Reflecting on the war’s aftermath, Aoun raised critical questions: "Could these constitutional amendments have been achieved through dialogue, without the need for war? Could we have developed our system through dialogue and consensus, without destruction and battles?"

“Yes, of course, this was possible. So why did we fail to achieve it?”

Aoun acknowledged that external factors played a significant role in exacerbating Lebanon's conflicts, but he placed primary responsibility on Lebanon’s own leaders for failing to resolve issues through peaceful means.

“There is great responsibility on us, as well as on many external factors that contributed to the outbreak of our war. But we alone paid the price.”

Now, fifty years later, Aoun urged the Lebanese to learn from their past mistakes and avoid repeating the errors that led to the country's descent into conflict.

“The first lesson we learned is that violence and hatred do not solve any problem in Lebanon,” Aoun said. “Only dialogue can provide solutions to our internal and systemic problems. This country has constants, and the first of those is that no one can cancel the other.”

Aoun also pointed to the dangers of relying on external support in internal conflicts.

"Whenever someone strengthens themselves by seeking external support against their compatriots, they lose, and the whole nation loses," he said. "We have all made this mistake, paid the price, and it is time for us to learn from our errors."

“We are all in this homeland, and our only refuge is the Lebanese State,”he said, underscoring the importance of unity, equality, and the protection offered by Lebanon’s official institutions.

"No matter the cost of internal reconciliation, it remains far less than any price we pay to foreign powers."

The president's message called for a reaffirmation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence.

"Over fifty years of war and a hundred years of Greater Lebanon's existence, we have confirmed that neither ideas smaller than Lebanon have a place in Lebanon’s reality, nor have illusions bigger than Lebanon brought any good to our people or our country," Aoun said. "We have all declared our belief in Lebanon as our final homeland."

"When we say ‘there is no salvation for us except through the Lebanese State,’ we mean its institutions and our commitment to each other, to be equal, even in our differences."

Aoun also condemned the recent firing of unknown rockets from southern Lebanon, an act he described as a "sinister conspiracy against our country." He emphasized that such actions only served to weaken Lebanon’s position internationally and provide an excuse for external forces looking to target the country.

“It is very important for all Lebanese to unite in condemning these practices and rejecting these actions,” he stated.

Aoun praised the Higher Shiite Islamic Council for taking legal action against those responsible for the rocket attacks.

"This step is much appreciated and has major and important implications,” he remarked.

In closing, Aoun called for collective commitment to Lebanon’s future, urging the Lebanese to stand together under one flag and one identity, united in their desire for peace, stability, and sovereignty.