Joseph Aoun

Lebanon's New Government Ministers Take Office Amidst Calls for Reform

Several handover ceremonies took place on Wednesday between outgoing and incoming ministers, marking the second consecutive day of such events following the Cabinet meeting held in Baabda on Tuesday. Finance Minister Yassine Jaber emphasized the need for cooperation to accomplish the tasks essential for the country's recovery. During the morning ...

LaHood to This Is Beirut: Lebanon's New Political Path Is a Turning Point for Change in a Divided Nation

US Congressman Darin LaHood expressed a hopeful perspective on Lebanon, recognizing the complicated realities the country faces. He stressed the importance of future transformation and strategic planning, advocating for a proactive stance in addressing Lebanon's challenges. LaHood emerges as a voice of optimism. His recent remarks to This is ...

New Government Forms Ministerial Committee to Draft Policy Statement

Lebanon’s newly formed government established a ministerial committee tasked with drafting the policy statement, a crucial document that will determine whether Parliament grants confidence to the new cabinet. The five-member committee includes Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, Minister of Culture Ghassan Salameh, Minister of Finance Yassine ...

Council of Ministers Kicks Off Its Work at Baabda Palace

On February 11, 2025, the official photograph of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's government, the first under President Joseph Aoun's term, was taken at Baabda Palace. The Council of Ministers, gathered for the first time at the Presidential Palace, launched their 'Reform and Rescue' mission, with a committee led by Prime Minister Salam formed to ...

Syrian Border Security Accuses Hezbollah of Sponsoring Smuggling Operations

Syrian Border Security forces have accused Hezbollah of sponsoring drug and arms smuggling along the Lebanese-Syrian border, claiming that the Lebanese militant group has facilitated the movement of illegal goods across the border. In an interview with SANA, Muayad al-Salameh, the commander of the Western Region of the Syrian Border Security ...

The End of Iranian Hegemony and the Chances of Normalization

Undoubtedly, the progressive dismantling of Iran‘s proxies raises the issue of normalization in the Near East at a time when the questions of civil concord, democratic political culture, and reformist elites are still controversial and have failed to inspire massive commitments within the respective civil societies, however elaborate and ...

Saint Maroun's Day: Rai Once Again Advocates Neutrality as a Lifeline for Lebanon

While celebrating Saint Maroun's day at Saint George's Cathedral in downtown Beirut, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai castigated politicians, “Stop procrastinating. Stop undermining the judiciary. Stop contravening the Constitution.” Rai insisted that the danger threatening Lebanon is that of sinking into the axis of decadence. “Lebanon must ...

Government: Salam and the Lebanese Forces Get the Lion’s Share

The first government of President Joseph Aoun’s mandate reflects the shifting political balance in Lebanon after the war between Hezbollah and Israel, the collapse of the Syrian regime and Western — particularly American — and Arab (especially Saudi) efforts to help Lebanon engage on the path of building a state. Notably, Hezbollah and its ...

J. Aoun Expresses Satisfaction Over New Government Formation

President Joseph Aoun expressed satisfaction over the new government formation, congratulating its president, Nawaf Salam, and the ministers. He wished them success in their new roles. According to the National News Agency, the president emphasized that the government, dubbed the "Government of Reform and Rescue," was formed in accordance with ...

Lebanon's New Government Formed Under the Banner of Reform and Implementation of Resolution 1701

The first government under President Joseph Aoun was announced on Saturday from the presidential palace in Baabda, after the signature of decrees accepting the resignation of caretaker Prime minister Najib Mikati’s cabinet and instating the new 24-member council of ministers under Judge Nawaf Salam. Cabinet Secretary General Mahmoud ...

Syrian Shelling on Lebanese Border Towns Causes Several Injuries

After a calm night, residents of the Lebanese border town of Jarmash woke up on Saturday to the sounds of Katyusha rockets and mortar shells fired from the Syrian side. A barrage of 50 shells rained down on several towns in Jurud al-Hermel during the early morning hours, escalating tensions along the border. The Lebanese Red Cross has so far ...

Ortagus: Hezbollah Should Not Be Part of the Government

Morgan Ortagus, the US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East, said that Hezbollah should not be part of the new Lebanese government that Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam is trying to  form. “Hezbollah has been defeated by Israel, and we are grateful for that,” Ortagus said after meeting with President Joseph Aoun at Baabda ...