Lebanon Elects Army Chief Joseph Aoun as New President

Lebanon has elected Army Chief Joseph Aoun as its new president, marking a significant political shift in the country amid a prolonged leadership vacuum.

Lebanon’s parliament has chosen Joseph Aoun, the U.S.-backed Army Chief, as the new president of the country. This decision concludes a two-year political stalemate during which Lebanon was without a head of state.

The landmark decision was achieved after two rounds of voting on Thursday, with significant support from Saudi Arabia and the United States playing a key role in ensuring Aoun’s victory.

The election concluded the presidential vacancy that started in October 2022, after former President Michel Aoun’s term—endorsed by Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran—ended. Attempts to elect a successor consistently fell through, highlighting significant rifts between Lebanon’s pro-Western and pro-Iranian groups.

The breakthrough followed a US-mediated ceasefire agreement that concluded the November 2024 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Analysts speculated this ceasefire accelerated the election process, as Hezbollah experienced substantial losses during the war, including Israeli attacks and the downfall of Iran-supported Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Assad had previously aided in transferring weapons to Hezbollah via Syria and Iraq.

According to the ceasefire terms, Joseph Aoun led the Lebanese Army in deploying to areas dominated by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon along the border with Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli forces were obligated to withdraw from Lebanese territory. Although not directly involved in combat during the conflict, implementing this agreement reinforced the army’s role as a crucial factor for Lebanon’s future stability.

Joseph Aoun, who maintains strong connections with both Washington and Riyadh, became a consensus candidate following 12 unsuccessful attempts to elect a president over the past two years. His election highlighted the increasing influence of Saudi Arabia and the United States in shaping Lebanon’s political landscape.

Lebanon’s confessional power-sharing system requires that the presidency be occupied by a Maronite Christian, so Aoun’s rise to this position aligns with the country’s tradition.