Joseph Aoun Elected as Lebanon's New President

On January 10, Lebanon's parliament elected Army Chief Joseph Aoun as the new president, ending a long political deadlock. Aoun's election followed two rounds of voting, with support from the United States and Saudi Arabia, who have strong ties with him. After his election, Aoun resigned from his military position and was sworn in at the parliament in civilian clothes.

A New Era for Lebanon

In his acceptance speech, Aoun promised a "new era" for Lebanon, focusing on resolving the country's economic and political issues. He also pledged to "monopolise weapons" under state control, aiming to disarm Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed group in Lebanon.

Hezbollah's Influence and Challenges

Hezbollah, a heavily armed group, has faced challenges after a recent conflict with Israel and the weakening of its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. A US-brokered ceasefire in November required Hezbollah to withdraw from the border with Israel, further reducing its influence.

Lebanon's Defence Strategy

Aoun emphasized Lebanon's goal to end Israeli occupation and discussed developing a national defence strategy without relying on Hezbollah. He stated, "The Lebanese state will get rid of the Israeli occupation."

Political Background

Lebanon had been without a president since October 2022, after Michel Aoun's term ended. Joseph Aoun won 99 out of 128 votes in the second round, with Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc supporting him to promote national unity.