The President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, laid the foundation stone for the project to build ta’adhud housing for privates and individuals in the Lebanese Army, in the Mardasha area of Baabda, in an occasion that carried social dimensions and clear political messages about the role of the military institution and its sovereign position in the state.
In his speech during the celebration, President Aoun stressed that the army, with its officers and members, represents the foundation of the state and “the rock that is the foundation of the nation,” stressing that the military institution’s weapons are “the only legitimate weapon,” and explaining that its legitimacy stems from the Lebanese people’s trust in the army, not from force or the guardianship of any party whatsoever. He addressed the military by saying that this trust is the strongest asset they possess, adding: “Without you, even those who attack you will not have a square meter from which to speak,” describing them as “the title of honor, sacrifice, and loyalty,” and pointing out that the army constitutes a comprehensive umbrella for all Lebanese, including its critics.
The President of the Republic touched on the difficult living conditions that members of the military institution have experienced in recent years, pointing to the decline in salaries and savings amid the escalation of responsibilities and duties, stressing at the same time that the military personnel will continue to perform their duties despite the burden of the economic crisis. Aoun linked the housing project to the concept of national solidarity, considering that supporting the army represents a direct investment in Lebanon’s stability, and that internal embrace of the military institution and support for Lebanon’s friends constitute a fundamental pillar in the state-building project.
President Aoun had arrived at the celebration site in Al-Mardasha shortly before eleven o’clock, where he was received by the Minister of National Defense, Major General Michel Mansi, the Commander of the Army, General Rodolphe Haykal, the Chief of Staff, Major General Hassan Odeh, members of the Military Council, and the Director General of Administration at the Ministry of Defense, Major General Mohamed Al-Amin, along with a number of senior officers, mayors, and representatives of entities contributing to financing the project and the United Nations Development Programme.
For his part, Defense Minister Major General Michel Mansi stressed that “no country exists without an army to protect it in peace as well as in war,” stressing that the soldier cannot perform his duties without providing the necessities of a just and decent life for himself and his family. Mansi pointed out that the Taadhud Housing Project is returning to the forefront after a hiatus imposed by the political, security, economic and financial circumstances, considering it an essential step to restore respect for social security and living stability for the military amid the current crisis.
In turn, the Director General of the Department, Major General Mohamed Al-Amin, explained that the project reflects the military institution’s commitment to its sons and its keenness to secure decent housing for their families, revealing an integrated plan to develop the mutual aid and economic institutions affiliated with the Directorate. This plan includes raising the value of mutual loans and maintaining old buildings, as work has been completed on 197 housing units out of 490, as well as a plan to construct new buildings in the governorates and rehabilitate branches of economic institutions to provide consumer materials at reasonable prices.
It is noteworthy that the project is the first of its kind of this size and integration in the General Directorate of Administration since its establishment on June 14, 1980. It is being built on an area of approximately 50 thousand square meters owned by the Ta’adhud Foundation for Privates and Individuals, and includes the construction of 5 buildings containing about 100 housing units, in addition to sports facilities, open playgrounds, a swimming pool, a restaurant, and a new branch of the Economics Foundation, to be financed from the proceeds of investing in other parts of the property.
The reclamation and rehabilitation work on the property began in July 2025, and the project will be implemented in two phases, each lasting a maximum of 18 months, starting with construction work and ending with the delivery of units ready for housing. It is hoped that the project will constitute a role model for similar projects in various Lebanese regions in support of the stability of military personnel and their families.
