Army Commander, General Rudolph Heikal, expressed in a television interview his hope for the restoration of the flag service, saying: “God willing, we will return to the flag service,” pointing to its role in strengthening national cohesion and unity among the Lebanese. Heikal called on citizens to help the military institution by reporting any suspicious situation, stressing that the army’s war on terrorism, drugs, weapons, and smuggling did not stop on the borders and in all Lebanese regions. He stressed that the army is "more vigilant in terms of security in order to reach safety."