Joseph Aoun

Gebran Bassil’s No-Win Choice

One of the most powerful roles ever played by legendary Meryl Streep was that of Sophie in the iconic film Sophie’s Choice, now regarded as a masterpiece of world cinema. The movie delves into the ethical, psychological, and spiritual torment of making impossible choices in the darkest moments of human history. Based on both a true story and a ...

Cabinet Approves New Administrative, Judicial Appointments

The Council of Ministers approved several administrative and judicial appointments during a regular session convened on Friday at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, chaired by President of the Republic Joseph Aoun.  The Cabinet appointed Judge Maher Shaito as the new Financial Public Prosecutor. Mazen Soueid was appointed Chairman of the ...

Aoun Visits Cyprus, Christodoulides Stresses Lebanon’s Regional Role

President Joseph Aoun returned to Beirut on Wednesday afternoon, following an official visit to Cyprus at the invitation of his Cypriot counterpart, Nikos Christodoulides. The visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. He was received by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, who emphasized Lebanon’s ...

Hezbollah Reconsiders Arms as Regional Shifts and Domestic Pressures Mount

Hezbollah is reportedly reassessing its military strategy, including the potential reduction of its weapons arsenal, notably its missiles and drones, in exchange for Israeli withdrawal from disputed border areas and an end to ongoing airstrikes. According to a report by the British website UnHerd, the once-unthinkable notion of disarmament has ...

US Envoy Thomas Barrack Urges Lebanon to Seize the Moment, or Be Left Behind

US Special Envoy Thomas Barrack delivered a strong message to Lebanese leaders on Monday, urging them to “seize the opportunity” for peace and reform while the region is moving forward on the path of change and the United States remains engaged and supportive. His remarks to the press followed a meeting with President Joseph Aoun at ...

Barrack in Lebanon: The Country at a Historic Crossroads

US envoy Tom Barrack is back in Beirut this Monday – his second visit in less than a month. His goal: to secure a clear response from Lebanese authorities on the US proposal to disarm Hezbollah by November. Barrack is expected to meet with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Foreign Minister ...

When Hezbollah Clings to a Perpetual State of War

In the aftermath of one of Hezbollah’s many aimless wars in recent years, a senior figure within the pro-Iranian party delivered a speech categorizing the Lebanese people into four groups: the “noblest” – party members and loyalists who, in his words, are “resisting the occupation,” those who “collaborate with the enemy,” those who ...

Aoun to Lammy: Only LAF and UNIFIL Will Operate in South Lebanon

President Joseph Aoun announced that the Lebanese Army (LAF) will soon have 10,000 troops deployed south of the Litani River as part of the government’s efforts to reinforce state authority and comply with United Nations Resolution 1701. The announcement was made on Saturday during a meeting with visiting British Foreign Secretary David Lammy at ...

Hezbollah Ambiguous on Disarmament and Disbanding of Its Security and Financial Arms

According to Lebanese sources, the anticipated response to the message conveyed by US envoy Tom Barrack regarding the disarmament of Hezbollah is expected to align with what Barrack stated in an interview with The New York Times, specifically the application of a carrot-and-stick approach toward the group. Lebanon's official response, however, ...

Lebanon Risks Missing the Train

There was a time when the idea of Syria normalizing ties with Israel would’ve been laughed out of every Arab capital. Not anymore. Damascus is reportedly engaged in serious discussions to join the Abraham Accords. Once-controversial deals, the Accords now seem like the Middle East’s new baseline. That Syria, of all countries, is entertaining ...

President Aoun Stresses Judicial Integrity During Visit to Ministry of Justice

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun visited the Ministry of Justice in Beirut this morning to assess the state of the judicial sector amid the country’s ongoing challenges. During his tour, President Aoun addressed judges directly, urging them to uphold fairness and resist external influence. “Judge fairly and per the law; do not acquit a ...

President Aoun Receives Saudi Envoy Ahead of Barrack Visit

President Joseph Aoun met on Thursday with Saudi Arabia’s special envoy for Lebanon, Prince Yazid bin Farhan, at Baabda Palace. The Saudi envoy’s visit precedes the arrival in Beirut of United States envoy Tom Barrack, who gave Lebanese officials a one-week deadline to respond to the US roadmap for Lebanon – which aims, among other things, ...