Lebanon’s political and military leadership called for national unity on 9 August after several army soldiers were killed in a munitions explosion near the southern coastal city of Tyre, an area already strained by persistent border tensions. President Joseph Aoun said the nation’s freedom "is only protected by great sacrifices," hailing the fallen troops as defenders of sovereignty. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also mourned the deaths, describing the soldiers as martyrs who were fulfilling their national duty. In a separate statement, the Lebanese Army urged all citizens and political factions to assume their responsibilities and stand together to "overcome the dangers facing Lebanon," portraying the military as the country’s safety valve and guardian of state institutions.