Joseph AOun

Aoun Urges Strong Action Against Drugs and Cyber Addiction

President Joseph Aoun highlighted on Wednesday that drugs pose a greater danger than terrorism or corruption due to their deep penetration into families and societies, which, he warned, can ultimately lead to their disintegration. During a meeting with a delegation from Youth Against Drugs (JAD), led by Joseph Hawat, Aoun stressed the urgency of ...

President Joseph Aoun to Attend Pope Francis’ Funeral at the Vatican

President Joseph Aoun will travel to the Vatican on Saturday at the head of a Lebanese delegation to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday. According to information obtained on Wednesday by the Al-Markazia news agency, President Aoun will represent Lebanon at the solemn ceremony, highlighting the historic and spiritual ...

In Washington, Morgan Ortagus Praises President Joseph Aoun’s Leadership

At a reception held on Tuesday at the Lebanese Embassy in Washington, Morgan Ortagus, Deputy Special Envoy of US President Donald Trump for the Middle East, reaffirmed the Trump administration’s focus on the region and delivered a strong message of support for Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. A Tribute to President Aoun In her remarks, Ortagus ...

Hezbollah to Aoun: Bring It On!

Hezbollah is thumbing its nose at President Joseph Aoun. In response to the Lebanese President saying that he was in talks with the militia over surrendering its arms, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said, “We will confront whoever assaults the resistance and tries to disarm it the same way we faced Israel.” Now what? While Aoun remained silent, ...

Hezbollah’s 'Populist' Posturing and the Call for Army Control of Weapons

Hezbollah appears divided over its stance on handing over its weapons to the state. On one hand, senior figures such as Wafiq Safa, Mahmoud Komati and Naim Qassem—who declared, “We will not allow anyone to disarm us”—maintain a hardline position. On the other, President Joseph Aoun signaled a potential shift in the group’s approach, ...

Maronite Patriarch Rai Injured During Resurrection Mass, Undergoes Successful Surgery

A statement issued by the Media Office of the Patriarchal See in Bkerke reads: “At the beginning of the Divine Liturgy for the blessed Feast of the Resurrection, held at 10:00 AM on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at the Church of the Resurrection in the Patriarchal Headquarters in Bkerke, in the presence of His Excellency, the President of the ...

Southern Lebanon: Is Israel Answering Qassem with Fire?

Sunday marked one of the most violent days since the February ceasefire. Through a series of targeted strikes on alleged Hezbollah positions, the Israeli army raised the level of confrontation. This offensive came just days after Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, reaffirmed the group’s categorical rejection of disarmament, declaring ...

Hezbollah: Caught Between Reality and Recklessness

Many in Lebanon and beyond are still grappling with what President Joseph Aoun meant when he spoke of integrating Hezbollah members into the army or security forces. Yet, his message was clear, “We do not want to replicate the Popular Mobilization Forces model in Iraq.” In other words, Lebanon’s leadership is not prepared to absorb ...

Aoun and Rai Reiterates Commitment to Lebanon’s Sovereignty in Bkerke

President Joseph Aoun renewed his commitment to implement his promises on illegal weapons and anti-corruption measures on Sunday, following a meeting in Bkerke with the Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai. The President visited the Patriarchal Palace to present his Easter greetings to the Maronite Patriarch and attend Easter mass. Aoun said that ...

Joseph Aoun Files Two Appeals Before the Constitutional Council

In a notable move, President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, submitted two appeals before the Constitutional Council. The first concerns Law No. 1, which came into force by default and relates to the rental of non-residential spaces. The second concerns Law No. 2, also effective by default, aimed at amending certain provisions regulating the ...

President Aoun Files Appeals Over New Laws

President Joseph Aoun has filed two appeals Thursday before the Constitutional Council challenging recently enacted laws that came into effect automatically. The first appeal concerns the law on the liberalization of non-residential rent contracts, while the second targets amendments to legislation regulating the organization of private schools ...

Qatar Renews Military and Financial Support to LAF Following Aoun’s Visit

The State of Qatar and the Republic of Lebanon issued a joint statement on Wednesday outlining the outcomes of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s official visit to Doha. The statement emphasized that during talks between Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and President Aoun, both sides reaffirmed the vital role of the Lebanese Armed ...