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For other people named Joseph Aoun, see Joseph Aoun (disambiguation).

Joseph Khalil Aoun (/aʊn/; Arabic: ‫جوزيف خليل‬

His Excellency
‫ ;عون‬born 10 January 1964) is a Lebanese Joseph Aoun
politician and general who became the 14th
‫جوزيف عون‬
president of Lebanon on 9 January 2025.[1][2] He
was appointed as the 14th Commander of the
Lebanese Armed Forces in 2017.

Early life and education

Aoun was born on 10 January 1964, in the Beirut
suburb of Sin el-Fil in the Metn District, the child
of Hoda Ibrahim Makhlouta and Khalil Aoun.[3]
He completed secondary school at the Collège
des Frères Mont La Salle. His family is originally
from the town of Al-Aaishiyah, Southern
Lebanon. Aoun in 2025
14th President of Lebanon
Aoun enrolled at the Lebanese American
Incumbent
University to pursue a bachelor's degree in
Assumed office
political science and international affairs, which
9 January 2025
he earned in 2007. He also holds a bachelor's
Prime Minister Najib Mikati
degree in military science from the Lebanese
Preceded by Najib Mikati (Acting)
Army Military Academy.[4][5][6]
Michel Aoun
14th Commander of the
Lebanese Armed Forces
Military career
Incumbent
Aoun joined the Lebanese army in 1983. He Assumed office
trained abroad, especially in the United States 8 March 2017

and Syria. He also underwent counter-terrorism President Michel Aoun

training in the United States in 2008 and Himself
Lebanon in 2013. He became head of the army's Preceded by Jean Kahwaji

9th Infantry Brigade in 2015. Personal details

Born 10 January 1964 (age 61)
Sin el Fil, Mount Lebanon,
Lebanese Civil War Lebanon
In 1990, Aoun served as a lieutenant under the Spouse Nehmat Nehmeh
command of the Lebanese Army's Fawj al- Children 2
Maghaweer (Arabic: ‫فوج المغاوير‬, The Commando Education Lebanese American University
Regiment) under leader Bassam Gergi at the (BA)​
Lebanese Army Military Acad.
Adma barracks. During the Adma Battle in the
Military service
Civil War's Liberation War's Elimination War,
Allegiance Lebanon
Gergi was killed and Aoun took over leadership
Branch Lebanese Army
within the Maghaweer group.[7][8]
Service years 1983–present
Rank
Commander of Lebanese Armed General

Forces
Wars Lebanese Civil War
In 2015, Aoun was appointed commander of the Syrian civil war spillover in
Lebanon
9th Brigade deployed on the border with Israel.
On 8 March 2017, the Lebanese government
appointed him commander-in-chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), replacing Jean
Kahwaji.[9]

Aoun led battles against the Islamic State campaign in eastern Lebanon, where hundreds of
Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front militants were entrenched on the border with Syria.[5] On 19
August 2017, he commanded the Jroud Dawn Operation, a successful offensive to expel the
militants from their strongholds.[10]

Following protests in Lebanon and the political deadlock, General Aoun spoke out on 8 March
2021 criticising the Lebanese liquidity crisis and its impact on the military. His speech went
viral on social media.[11]

On 15 December 2023, the Lebanese parliament voted to extend Aoun's term for one year,
which was mainly endorsed by the Lebanese Opposition, the Amal Movement and the
Progressive Socialist Party.[12] During this time, he led the LAF through the 2024 Israeli
invasion of Lebanon. On 28 November 2024, parliament voted to extend his term a second
time.[13]

Political career
Aoun's possible presidential candidacy was first raised by
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in July 2022 who
suggested that he would make a good successor to Michel
Aoun.[14] Qatar declared support for his candidacy during a
visit by officials as they vowed to support the army with
financial and military aid; the United States followed with
support.[15]
Aoun meeting with Austrian
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In December 2022, a five-nation group was formed by the
Alexander Schallenberg in
Doha envoy which involved the United States, France, February 2024
Saudi Arabia, and Egypt to hold talks and resolve the
presidential vacancy in Lebanon in which most countries
affirmed their support for Aoun's election.[16] Walid Jumblatt was the first to officially announce
that the Democratic Gathering bloc, that he leads, would elect him.[17] On 9 January,
opposition groups including the Kataeb party, the Renewal Bloc, and the Lebanese Forces
issued a joint statement in support of Aoun.[18]

Presidency (since 2025)

On 9 January 2025, Aoun was elected president in the second round of the electoral
session.[19] In his inaugural address, he vowed to fight the mafias, drug trafficking, interference
in the justice system, corruption, poverty, and sectarianism. He also stated that he would
promote economic, political, and judicial reform.[20][21] He also said: "The Lebanese state – I
repeat the Lebanese state – will get rid of the Israeli occupation".[22] However, his election was
heavily criticized by some opposition members who argued that the Lebanese constitution bars
a sitting army commander from being elected president, a ban that has been waived multiple
times, which prompted some MPs to place a protest vote.[23]

Personal life
Aoun is married to Nehmat Nehmeh. They have two children, Khalil and Nour. He is fluent in
Arabic, French and English.[24][25]

He is not related to Michel Aoun, his predecessor as both President of Lebanon and
Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, although both are Lebanese Maronite Christians.
Under the National Pact, the President and the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces
are always selected from the Maronite community.[26]

Honors

Ribbon Description Notes Ref.

 War Medal Three-time recipient

Medal of the Wounded Two-time recipient

Medal of National Unity

Medal of the "Dawn of the

South" [27][28]

Military Valour Medal, Silver

Member 1st Class of the Promoted from 2nd Class, and before
Order of Merit that from 3rd Class

Officer of the National Order Previously decorated as Knight of the

of the Cedar Order

References
1. ^ "2025 ‫ يناير‬9 ‫"جوزيف عون هو رئيس لبنان التاسع منذ‬ . Shufu News (in Arabic). 9 January 2025. Retrieved
9 January 2025.
2. ^ "‫ انتخاب قائد الجيش اللبناني رئيسًا للجمهورية بعد نيله ثلثي أصوات المجلس النيابي‬:‫"جوزاف عون‬ . BBC News ‫( عربي‬in
Arabic). 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
3. ^ "A memorial service held to honor Mrs. Hoda Ibrahim Makhlouta, the mother of the LAF
Commander General Joseph Aoun" . 10 .‫ الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني‬January 2024. Retrieved
10 January 2024.
4. ^ "Joseph Aoun" . en.majalla.com. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
5. ^ a b ‫ الجزيرة نت‬." "‫ جوزيف عون "مرشح الضرورة‬..‫"الرئاسة اللبنانية على صفيح ساخن‬ .‫ محمد داود‬,‫( العلي‬in Arabic).
Retrieved 23 December 2024.
6. ^ "From Academia to Army, an Interview with General Joseph Aoun" . magazine.lau.edu.lb.
Retrieved 8 January 2024.
7. ^ "‫ وصول العماد جوزيف عون لقيادة الجيش يعني وصول ولدي‬:‫"والد أحد الضباط الشهداء‬ . elnashra (in Arabic). 25
September 2017.
8. ^ "‫ الحلقة الرابعة عشر‬− ‫ معركة ادما والمغوار الذي يموت واقفًا وال ينحني‬..‫"هذا انا جورج نادر‬ . lebanondebate (in
Arabic). 3 March 2016.
9. ^ Joseph Aoun | Official Website of the Lebanese Army
10. ^ "Operation 'Jroud Dawn': Lebanon begins assault on Islamic State" . The Sydney Morning
Herald. 19 August 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
11. ^ "‫ سكاي نيوز عربية‬."‫ماذا قال قائد الجيش اللبناني بشأن الوضع السياسي في البالد؟‬ (in Arabic). Retrieved 10 March
2021.
12. ^ Prentis, Jamie (15 December 2023). "Lebanese Parliament votes to extend army chief's term by
a year" . The National. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
13. ^ "Lebanon's parliament renews army chief's term in first session after ceasefire" . Associated
Press. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
14. ^ "Lebanon army chief emerges as potential candidate for president" . Arab News. 2 February
2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
15. ^ "Report: Qatar calls for meeting of five-nation group on Thursday" . Naharnet. 10 July 2023.
Retrieved 26 September 2023.
16. ^ "Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun seen as a president-in-waiting after Doha visit" .
Gulf News. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
17. ^ "Présidentielle : Pour Bassil, Geagea est celui qui « bénéficie de la légitimité populaire »"
[Presidential election: for Bassil, Geagea is the one who 'has popular support']. L'Orient–Le Jour
(in French). 31 December 2024.
18. ^ Abi Akl, Yara (9 January 2025). "Tout le monde devant le fait accompli : le soutien à Joseph
Aoun presque unanime" [Everyone presented with a fait accompli: almost unanimous support
for Joseph Aoun]. L'Orient–Le Jour (in French).
19. ^ "Lebanon's army chief Joseph Aoun elected president" . Al Arabiya. 9 January 2025. Retrieved
9 January 2025.
20. ^ "Joseph Aoun, elected president, wants Lebanese state to invest in its army to protect its
borders, combat smuggling, terrorism, Israeli aggression | Our live coverage of the parliamentary
session" . L'Orient Today. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
21. ^ "‫ الجزيرة نت‬."‫انتخاب جوزيف عون رئيسا للبنان‬ (in Arabic). Retrieved 10 January 2025.
22. ^ Qiblawi, Tamara (9 January 2025). "US-backed army chief elected Lebanon's president, ending
years-long stalemate" . CNN. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
23. ^ Sewell, Abby (10 January 2025). "Who is Joseph Aoun, a low-profile army chief who is now
Lebanon's president?" . Washington Post.
24. ^ "Commanders" . 7 March 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
25. ^ "Lebanon's army chief Joseph Aoun, a man with a tough mission" . France 24. 29 November
2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
26. ^ "Lebanon's army chief Joseph Aoun, a man with a tough mission" . Al-Monitor. Retrieved
7 December 2024.
27. ^ "Joseph Aoun | ‫"الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني‬ . www.lebarmy.gov.lb. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March
2024.
28. ^ "Foreword of LAF Commander General Joseph Aoun" . 22 .‫الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني‬
November 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2024.

Military offices

Commander of the Lebanese Armed

Preceded by
Forces Incumbent
Jean Kahwaji
2017–present

Political offices

Preceded by President of Lebanon

Incumbent
Michel Aoun 2025–incumbent

v·t·e Presidents of Lebanon (list) [show]

v·t·e Leaders of Arab League member states [show]

v·t·e Commanders of the Lebanese Armed Forces [show]

 Categories: Commanders of the Lebanese Armed Forces 1964 births Living people
People from Mount Lebanon Governorate Presidents of Lebanon Lebanese Maronites
Lebanese generals Independent politicians in Lebanon
Lebanese expatriates in the United States Lebanese expatriates in Syria
People of the Lebanese Civil War Lebanese American University alumni
20th-century Lebanese military personnel 21st-century Lebanese military personnel
21st-century Lebanese politicians

This page was last edited on 12 January 2025, at 23:05 (UTC).

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