President of Lebanon since 2025 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joseph Khalil Aoun (/aʊn/; Arabic: جوزاف خليل عون;[a] born 10 January 1964) is a Lebanese politician and army general who has served as the 14th president of Lebanon since 9 January 2025.[1][2] He previously served as commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, and is the fifth commander appointed president.[3]
Joseph Aoun | |
|---|---|
| جوزاف عون | |
Official portrait, 2025 | |
| 14th President of Lebanon | |
| Assumed office 9 January 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Najib Mikati Nawaf Salam |
| Preceded by | Najib Mikati (Acting) Michel Aoun |
| 14th Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces | |
| In office 8 March 2017 – 9 January 2025 | |
| President | Michel Aoun Najib Mikati (Acting) |
| Preceded by | Jean Kahwaji |
| Succeeded by | Hassan Audi (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 January 1964 Sin el Fil, Mount Lebanon, Lebanon |
| Spouse | Nehmat Nehmeh |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Lebanese American University (BA) Lebanese Army Military Acad. |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Lebanon |
| Branch | Lebanese Army |
| Service years | 1983–2025 |
| Rank | General |
| Wars | Lebanese Civil War Syrian civil war spillover in Lebanon |
Aoun was born on 10 January 1964, in the Beirut suburb of Sin el-Fil in the Metn District, the child of Hoda Ibrahim Makhlouta and Khalil Aoun.[4] He completed secondary school at the Collège des Frères Mont La Salle. His family is originally from the town of Al-Aaishiyah, Southern Lebanon.
Aoun enrolled at the Lebanese American University to pursue a bachelor's degree in political science and international affairs, which he earned in 2007. He also holds a bachelor's degree in military science from the Lebanese Army Military Academy.[5][6][7]
Aoun joined the Lebanese army in 1983 and enrolled in the military academy during the Lebanese civil war.[8] 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 became head of the army's 9th Infantry Brigade in 2015.
In 1990, Aoun served as a lieutenant in the Lebanese Army's Commando Regiment (Arabic: فوج المغاوير) under leader Bassam Gergi at the Adma barracks. In the 1990 Elimination War, two hundred commandos loyal to General Michel Aoun were trapped in their base in Adma wa Dafneh by Samir Geagea’s Lebanese Forces militia (LF) until a truce was arranged to allow their evacuation.[9] Gergi was killed and Aoun took over leadership within the unit.[10][11]
In 2015, Aoun was appointed commander of the 9th Brigade deployed on the border with Israel. On 8 March 2017, the Lebanese government appointed him commander-in-chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), replacing Jean Kahwaji.[12]
Aoun led battles against the Islamic State campaign in eastern Lebanon, where hundreds of Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front militants were entrenched on the border with Syria.[6] On 19 August 2017, he commanded the Jroud Dawn Operation, a successful offensive to expel the militants from their strongholds.[13]
Following protests in Lebanon and the political deadlock, General Aoun spoke out on 8 March 2021 criticising the Lebanese liquidity crisis and its impact on the military. His speech went viral on social media.[14]
On 15 December 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.[15] During this time, he led the LAF through the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. On 28 November 2024, parliament voted to extend his term a second time.[16]
Aoun's possible presidential 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.[17] 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 followed with support.[18]
In December 2022, a five-nation group was formed by the Doha envoy which involved the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt to hold talks and resolve the presidential vacancy in Lebanon in which most countries affirmed their support for Aoun's election.[19]
Walid Jumblatt was the first to officially announce, in 2024, that the Democratic Gathering bloc, which he leads, would elect him.[20] On 9 January 2025 opposition groups including the Kataeb party, the Renewal Bloc, and the Lebanese Forces issued a joint statement in support of Aoun.[21]
On 9 January 2025, Aoun was elected president in the second round of the electoral session.[22] In his inaugural address, he vowed to fight the mafias, drug trafficking, interference in the justice system, corruption, poverty, and sectarianism. He also stated that he would promote economic, political, and judicial reform.[23][24] He also said: "The Lebanese state – I repeat the Lebanese state – will get rid of the Israeli occupation",[25] while also vowing that he would work "to affirm the state’s right to a monopoly on the carrying of arms".[26]
His election was criticized by some opposition members as unconstitutional who argued that the Lebanese constitution bars a sitting army commander from being elected president as stated in article 49 of the constitution, a ban that has been waived multiple times, which prompted some MPs to place a protest vote.[27] However, a precedent was set in the election of Michel Suleiman in 2008 when a sitting army chief was elected president with a two thirds majority in Parliament, the number required to amend the constitution, despite no actual amendment of the constitution by Parliament similar to what happened with the 1998 election of Emile Lahoud[28].
After Joseph Aoun was elected President of Lebanon, he delivered a speech before the Lebanese Parliament, expressing his positions on several key issues for the country and outlining commitments for the future, including:
Aoun also addressed controversial issues among the Lebanese people, such as:
In one of his first acts as president, Aoun nominated Nawaf Salam, the head of the International Court of Justice, as Prime Minister of Lebanon after winning the majority of votes by the members of parliament.[30] Hezbollah's parliamentary leader Mohammad Raad stated that Hezbollah "extended its hand" by helping to secure Aoun's election only to find the "hand cut off" accusing the opposition of fragmentation and exclusion from power in Lebanon.[31] Salam and Aoun's election is seen as a manifestation of Hezbollah's diminished influence in Lebanese politics, partly due to the group's military and financial losses in the conflict with Israel and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria.[32][33] Aoun formally appointed Salam as Prime Minister on 8 February 2025.[34]
Aoun is married to Nehmat Nehmeh. They have two children, Khalil and Nour. He is fluent in Arabic, French and English.[35][36]
His son, Khalil Aoun, is a basketball forward, currently playing for Antranik, and played in his career with Champville, Hoops Club and Louaize [37]
He is not related to Michel Aoun, his predecessor as both President of Lebanon and Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, although both are Lebanese Maronite Christians. Under the National Pact, the President and the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces are always selected from the Maronite community.[38]
| Ribbon | Description | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg){kind=small} |
War Medal | Three-time recipient | [39][40] |
.jpg){kind=small} |
Medal of the Wounded | Two-time recipient | |
| Medal of National Unity | |||
 |
Medal of the "Dawn of the South" | ||
 |
Military Valour Medal, Silver | ||
 |
Member 1st Class of the Order of Merit | Promoted from 2nd Class, and before that from 3rd Class | |
 |
Officer of the National Order of the Cedar | Previously decorated as Knight of the Order |
Notes
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
