Joseph Khalil Aoun (Arabic: جوزيف خليل عون, born 10 January 1964) is a Lebanese general serving as the 14th president of Lebanon since 9 January 2025.[1][2] He has also served as the 14th Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces since 2017.
Joseph Aoun | |
|---|---|
| جوزيف عون | |
 Aoun in 2018 | |
| 14th President of Lebanon | |
| Assumed office 9 January 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Najib Mikati |
| Preceded by | Michel Aoun (no relation) |
| 14th Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces | |
| Assumed office 8 March 2017 | |
| President |
|
| Preceded by | Jean Kahwaji |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 January 1964 Sin el Fil, Mount Lebanon, Lebanon |
| Spouse | Nehmat Nehmeh |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | LAU (BA) Lebanese Army Military Acad. |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Lebanon |
| Branch | Lebanese Army |
| Service years | 1983–present |
| Rank |  General |
| Wars | Lebanese Civil War |
Early life and education
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.[3] 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.[4][5][6]
Military 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.
Lebanese Civil War
In 1990, Aoun served as a lieutenant under the command of the Lebanese Army's Fawj al-Maghaweer (Arabic: فوج المغاوير, The Commando Regiment) under leader Bassam Gergi at the Adma barracks. During the Adma Battle in the Civil War's Liberation War's Elimination War, Gergi was killed and Aoun took over leadership within the Maghaweer group.[7][8]
Commander of Lebanese Armed Forces
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.[9]
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.[5] On 19 August 2017, he commanded the Jroud Dawn Operation which was a successful offensive to expel the militants from their strongholds.[10]
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.[11]
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.[12] 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.[13]
Political career
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.[14] 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.[15]
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 solve the presidential vacancy in Lebanon in which most countries affirmed its support for Aoun's election.[16] Jumblatt was the first to announce that the Democratic Gathering bloc he leads will elect him.[17]
Presidency (2025–present)
On 9 January 2025, Aoun was elected president in the second round of the electoral session.[18] 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.[19][20]
Personal life
Aoun is married to Nehmat Nehmeh. They have two children, Khalil and Nour. He is fluent in Arabic, French and English.[21][22] 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.[23]
Honors
| Ribbon | Description | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
War Medal | Three-time recipient | [24][25] |
|
Medal of the Wounded | Two-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, first class | ||
|
Knight of the National Order of the Cedar | ||
|
Officer of the National Order of the Cedar |
References
- ^ "جوزيف عون هو رئيس لبنان التاسع منذ 9 يناير 2025". Shufu News (in Arabic). 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ^ "جوزاف عون: انتخاب قائد الجيش اللبناني رئيساً للجمهورية بعد نيله ثلثي أصوات المجلس النيابي". BBC News عربي (in Arabic). 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ^ "A memorial service held to honor Mrs. Hoda Ibrahim Makhlouta, the mother of the LAF Commander General Joseph Aoun". الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Joseph Aoun". en.majalla.com. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ a b العلي, محمد داود. "الرئاسة اللبنانية على صفيح ساخن.. جوزيف عون "مرشح الضرورة"". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ "From Academia to Army, an Interview with General Joseph Aoun". magazine.lau.edu.lb. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "والد أحد الضباط الشهداء: وصول العماد جوزيف عون لقيادة الجيش يعني وصول ولدي". elnashra (in Arabic). 25 September 2017.
- ^ "هذا انا جورج نادر.. معركة ادما والمغوار الذي يموت واقفاً ولا ينحني − الحلقة الرابعة عشر". lebanondebate (in Arabic). 3 March 2016.
- ^ Joseph Aoun | Official Website of the Lebanese Army
- ^ "Operation 'Jroud Dawn': Lebanon begins assault on Islamic State". The Sydney Morning Herald. 19 August 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ "ماذا قال قائد الجيش اللبناني بشأن الوضع السياسي في البلاد؟". سكاي نيوز عربية (in Arabic). Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ Prentis, Jamie (15 December 2023). "Lebanese Parliament votes to extend army chief's term by a year". The National. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "Lebanon's parliament renews army chief's term in first session after ceasefire". Associated Press. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Lebanon army chief emerges as potential candidate for president". Arab News. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Report: Qatar calls for meeting of five-nation group on Thursday". Naharnet. 10 July 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun seen as a president-in-waiting after Doha visit". Gulf News. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ "Présidentielle : Pour Bassil, Geagea est celui qui « bénéficie de la légitimité populaire »" [Presidential election: for Bassil, Geagea is the one who "has popular support"]. L'Orient–Le Jour (in French). 31 December 2024.
- ^ "Lebanon's army chief Joseph Aoun elected president". Al Arabiya. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ^ "Joseph Aoun, elected president, wants Lebanese state to invest in its army to protect its borders, combat smuggling, terrorism, Israeli aggression | Our live coverage of the parliamentary session". L'Orient Today. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ^ "انتخاب جوزيف عون رئيسا للبنان". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 10 January 2025.
- ^ "Commanders". 7 March 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^ "Lebanon's army chief Joseph Aoun, a man with a tough mission". France 24. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Lebanon's army chief Joseph Aoun, a man with a tough mission". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
- ^ "Joseph Aoun | الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني". www.lebarmy.gov.lb. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ "Foreword of LAF Commander General Joseph Aoun". الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2024.