Lebanon Elects US-Backed Army Chief Joseph Aoun as President, Ending Two-Year Vacancy

Jan 9, 2025, 01:11 PM

Lebanon's Parliament has elected Army Chief Joseph Aoun as the country's new president, ending a two-year leadership vacuum since October 2022. In the second round of voting, Aoun secured 99 out of 128 parliamentary votes, surpassing the required two-thirds majority. His election is seen as diminishing the influence of Hezbollah and Iran in Lebanese politics, as Aoun is backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia. The 60-year-old army commander, who has led the Lebanese Armed Forces since 2017, was sworn in after the parliamentary session and became Lebanon's 14th president. Aoun is expected to address Lebanon's ongoing financial and social challenges and aims to stabilize the crisis-hit nation amid regional tensions.