Joseph Aoun

Ortagus Begins Lebanon Visit at Presidential Palace

US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, has returned to Lebanon for her second visit since February to meet with Lebanese officials. Her first stop was the Presidential Palace, where she held talks with President Joseph Aoun, followed by meetings with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri. Ortagus ...

US Senators Back Lebanese Army in Curbing Hezbollah

US Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), ranking members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a joint statement on Friday calling on Lebanon’s new government to seize the moment to reduce Hezbollah’s influence and implement crucial economic reforms. “We are at a critical moment in Lebanon,” the senators ...

Morgan Ortagus: The Architect of Historic Change in Lebanon

Morgan Ortagus, the U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East, arrives in Beirut this Friday with a clear objective: to transform the status quo and usher in a new era of stability for Lebanon. A true strategist in American diplomacy, she carries a strong message from Washington aimed at resolving border disputes with Israel, encouraging the ...

Judges and BDL Governor Take Oath at Baabda Palace

Three newly appointed judges and Lebanon’s new Central Bank (BDL) governor took their oaths of office on Thursday at Baabda Palace before President Joseph Aoun. Judges Judge Jamal al-Hajjar, Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation and Vice President of the Supreme Judicial Council, was sworn in alongside Judge Youssef al-Jamil, President ...

Aoun Visits ISF and GS Directorates to Reinforce Institutional Independence

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun conducted an inspection tour of the General Directorates of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) and General Security (GS) on Thursday. Accompanied by Minister of the Interior Ahmad Hajjar, Aoun reaffirmed the crucial role of security institutions in maintaining national stability and emphasized the need to safeguard ...

Pressure Is Mounting, Lebanon Urged to Set a Timeline for Hezbollah's Disarmament

A Western diplomatic source voiced concern over the situation in Lebanon, warning that mounting internal and external pressures on President Joseph Aoun’s term could lead to its failure if the first year does not yield tangible progress on multiple fronts. The source noted that high expectations surrounded Joseph Aoun’s election as president ...

Pretending to Disarm Hezbollah Won’t Work

Lebanon is pretending to disarm Hezbollah and thinks that the world believes it. Then, when the world calls Beirut out, Lebanese officials engage in collective delusion and blame “Israeli aggression” for military escalation. Lebanon is now reneging on the ceasefire and the 1701 enforcement mechanism that it signed, in November, in which it ...

What Lies Behind Nawaf Salam's Visit to Saudi Arabia?

The lavish reception for Nawaf Salam during his recent visit to Saudi Arabia has raised many questions. This high-profile welcome, marked by exceptional hospitality, is more than a simple protocol gesture and reflects significant political stakes. To shed light on the real motives behind this meeting, This is Beirut spoke with political analyst ...

New Border Agreement Between Lebanon and Syria Following Jeddah Agreement?

The issue of borders between Lebanon and Syria remains one of the most complex aspects of relations between the two countries. Today, this topic has resurfaced, particularly following Saudi Arabia’s intervention, as the Kingdom increasingly asserts itself as a key mediator in the region. In fact, a significant step was taken in this regard last ...

Confronting Suicidal Radicals: Full Resolve, No Half-Measures

When a country is gripped by a deep existential crisis and confronted with an armed conflict sparked by external aggression, polarized positions often become unavoidable. This is especially true – and bears repeating – when it comes to the actions of Iran’s proxies and their regional backer, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ...

Irresponsibility Is the Name of the Game 

The repeated truce breakdowns and the rising state of violence at the borders with Syria call into question the ability of the Lebanese state to regain control of its borders and oversee the gradual stabilization of Lebanese territory. The equivocations of the new government betray its inconsistencies and incapacity to come up with an integrated ...

Joseph Aoun Calls for Lifting Sanctions on Syria

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasized on Friday the importance of lifting international sanctions on Syria to enhance stability in Lebanon and the region as a whole and to facilitate the return of displaced persons. He made these remarks during a virtual summit organized by France at the Élysée Palace while on an official visit to Paris. ...