Joseph Aoun

For other people named Joseph Aoun, see Joseph Aoun (disambiguation).

Joseph Khalil Aoun (Arabic: جوزيف خليل عون, born 10 January 1964) is a Lebanese general and is the fourteenth Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces since 2017. He began his career in the Lebanese Army in 1983, and was steadily promoted until he reached the rank of Brigadier General in 2013.

Joseph Aoun
جوزيف عون
Aoun in 2018
14th Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 March 2017
President	Michel Aoun
Preceded by	Jean Kahwaji
Personal details
Born	(1964-01-10) 10 January 1964 (age 60) Sin el Fil, Mount Lebanon, Lebanon
Alma mater	Lebanese Army Military Academy
Military service
Allegiance	Lebanon
Branch/service	Lebanese Army
Years of service	1983–present
Rank	General

Early life

Joseph Aoun was born on January 10, 1964 to a Maronite Catholic family in the Beirut suburb of Sin el-Fil in the Metn District. He earned a degree in political science and a degree in military science.^[1]

Career

Aoun joined the Lebanese army in 1983. He trained abroad, especially in the United States and Syria. He also underwent counter-terrorism training in the United States in 2008 and Lebanon in 2013. He has headed the army's 9th Infantry Brigade since 2015.

Civil war

In 1990, Joseph Aoun served as a lieutenant under the command of Maghawir leader Bassam Gergi at the Adma barracks. During the Adma Battle in the Elimination War, Gergi was killed and Aoun took over leadership within the Maghawir group.^[2][3]

Commander of the LAF

On 8 March 2017, the Lebanese government appointed Joseph Aoun commander-in-chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces, replacing Jean Kahwaji.^[4]

In August 2017 he commanded the Jroud Dawn Operation which was an offensive against an Islamic State enclave on the northeast border with Syria.^[5]

Following the protests in Lebanon and with the deadlock of the formation of the government, General Aoun made a speech on March 8, 2021 concerning the local and regional situation. Aoun focused on the economic crisis and its impact on the military staff and addressed the political class: "Where are we going? What are you waiting for? What do you plan to do? We have warned more than once of the danger of the situation."^[6] His speech went viral on social media.

On December 15, 2023, the Lebanese parliament voted to extend Aoun's term for one year which was mainly endorsed by the Lebanese Opposition, the Amal Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party.^[7]

Presidential candidacy

Aoun's possible candidacy was first raised by Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in July 2022 who suggested that he would make a good successor to Michel Aoun.^[8] Qatar declared support for his candidacy during a visit by officials as they vowed to support the army with financial and military aid, the United States also followed with support.^[9] A 5-nation group was formed by the Doha envoy which involved the United States, France, KSA, and Egypt to hold talks and solve the presidential vacancy in Lebanon most countries affirmed its support for the election of Joseph Aoun. Despite this Aoun said during a meeting with a delegation from the Press Syndicate when asked about his candidacy, “I don't care about it, it doesn't concern me, no one has discussed it with me and I haven't discussed it with anyone”.^[10]

Personal life

Joseph Aoun is married to Nehmat Nehmeh and father of two children, Khalil and Nour. He is fluent in Arabic, French and English.^[11] Contrary to popular belief, he is unrelated to former President of Lebanon and fellow Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces Michel Aoun.^[12]

On 5 January 2024 Aoun's mother, Hoda Ibrahim Makhlouta, passed away. A memorial service was held the next day in Fiyadieh which was attended by multiple church leaders, ministers and members of parliament.^[13]

Honors

Ribbon	Description	Notes	Ref.
	War Medal	3-time recipient	[14][15]
	Medal of the Wounded	2-time recipient
	Medal of National Unity
	Medal of the "Dawn of the South"
	Military Valour Medal, Silver
	Order of Merit, third class
	Order of Merit, second class
	Order of Merit, second class
	Knight of the National Order of the Cedar
	Officer of the National Order of the Cedar

References

1. "Joseph Aoun". en.majalla.com. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
2. "والد أحد الضباط الشهداء: وصول العماد جوزيف عون لقيادة الجيش يعني وصول ولدي". elnashra (in Arabic). 2017-09-25.
3. "هذا انا جورج نادر.. معركة ادما والمغوار الذي يموت واقفاً ولا ينحني - الحلقة الرابعة عشر". lebanondebate (in Arabic). 2016-03-03.
4. Joseph Aoun | Official Website of the Lebanese Army
5. "Operation 'Jroud Dawn': Lebanon begins assault on Islamic State". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2017-08-19. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
6. "ماذا قال قائد الجيش اللبناني بشأن الوضع السياسي في البلاد؟". سكاي نيوز عربية (in Arabic). Retrieved 2021-03-10.
7. Prentis, Jamie (2023-12-15). "Lebanese Parliament votes to extend army chief's term by a year". The National. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
8. "Lebanon army chief emerges as potential candidate for president". Arab News. 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
9. "Report: Qatar calls for meeting of five-nation group on Thursday". Naharnet. July 10, 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
10. "Army chief says not interested in becoming president". Naharnet. September 18, 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
11. "Commanders". Retrieved 6 June 2017.
12. "Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun seen as a president-in-waiting after Doha visit". gulfnews.com. 2022-12-16. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
13. "A memorial service held to honor Mrs. Hoda Ibrahim Makhlouta, the mother of the LAF Commander General Joseph Aoun". الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
14. "Joseph Aoun | الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني". www.lebarmy.gov.lb. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
15. "Foreword of LAF Commander General Joseph Aoun". الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني. Retrieved 2024-03-03.

Military offices
Preceded by Jean Kahwaji	Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces 2017–present	Incumbent