Joseph Aoun

Aoun Reaffirms Lebanon’s Support for UNIFIL to UN’s Lacroix

President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to the continued presence of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the south, during a meeting with UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix on Wednesday. During the meeting, Aoun underscored Lebanon’s dedication to implementing UN Security ...

Rai Says Neutrality Key to Lebanon’s Future

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai stressed the need for Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon, as a necessary step for the President to act effectively on the issue of Hezbollah’s disarmament. Speaking from Bkerke on Wednesday during a special media forum organized by the Catholic Center for Information, Rai emphasized that neutrality ...

Government Breaks 8-Year Deadlock: Major Diplomatic and Economic Reforms

In a landmark session held on Monday at Baabda Palace, the Cabinet ended an eight-year stalemate by approving a sweeping reshuffle of diplomatic appointments, signaling what officials described as a return to institutional order within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Meeting since 10:30 AM, the Council of Ministers approved the full list of new ...

Lebanon Launches Repatriation Effort From Egypt with Three Flights Scheduled Monday

A plane took off this morning from  Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh, with 180 Lebanese nationals on board. Two additional flights, carrying a similar number of passengers, are also scheduled for today as part of a plan developed by Minister of Public Works Fayez Rassamni in coordination with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Facing ...

Le Drian Warns Lebanon Must Seize Its Moment Before Syria Dominates International Attention

In an interview with LBCI, on Thursday, Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Special Envoy to Lebanon, lauded the efforts of the Lebanese officials in putting the country back on the path to recovery. However, he cautioned that there is still much to be done and warned that Lebanon risks missing the opportunity as international attention increasingly shifts ...

Aoun Arrives in Rome for Official Visit to the Vatican

President Joseph Aoun and First Lady Nehmat Aoun arrived in Rome on Thursday afternoon, marking the beginning of an official and familial visit to the Vatican. The presidential couple landed at Ciampino Military Airbase, where they were greeted by Vatican and Lebanese diplomatic officials. Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to receive President Aoun in a ...

Lebanon’s Missed Moment: How Emotions and Arrogance Blinded Us to Collapse

Sometimes history gives you a window of opportunity so wide, so glaringly obvious, that missing it becomes a form of national self-harm. Lebanon is living one of those moments now, and letting it slip, again. For the first time in decades, Hezbollah is not at the peak of its military or political power. Israel’s 2024 campaign decimated much of ...

Salam Engages with UN Officials, Eyes Airport Revival

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam led a series of high-level meetings on Wednesday at the Grand Serail, addressing regional tensions, bilateral ties and infrastructure proposals. In a closed-door meeting with UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, discussions focused on rising security tensions in southern Lebanon. While no ...

President Aoun in Jordan to Deepen Ties, Address Refugee Crisis

President Joseph Aoun arrived in Amman on Tuesday for a high-level visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation with Jordan, particularly in addressing the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis and promoting regional stability. Aoun was received at Marka Military Airport with full honors by Jordan’s King Abdullah II. The visit included formal ...

Instructions from the Al-Sahhaf Playbook

Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, Iraq’s former Minister of Information, became a global icon during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. His surreal press briefings - defiant, eloquent, and completely disconnected from reality - turned him into a legend of denial and spin. But Al-Sahhaf is no longer just a relic of Iraq’s past. He has become a mindset, a ...

Palestinian Disarmament: Is Pandora’s Box Forever Closed?

For the first time since the signing and subsequent annulment of the Cairo Agreement, a formal and tangible process has been launched to disarm Palestinian factions in the country’s refugee camps. On May 21, 2025, President Abbas met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Presidential Palace. In a joint statement released after the ...

Lebanon Marks 164th Anniversary of ISF

Top Lebanese officials paid tribute on Monday to the Internal Security Forces (ISF) as the country marked the 164th anniversary of the force’s founding, praising the ISF’s role in preserving national security amid ongoing political and economic turmoil. In a statement released by the presidency, President Joseph Aoun highlighted the ISF’s ...