After two years of vacancy, Lebanon’s top presidential post has been filled with the election of Army Chief Joseph Aoun. Backed by the United States, Aoun was elected as president in a parliamentary vote held on Thursday. Not only is he supported by the U.S., but he is also credited with limiting the influence of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group in Lebanon, following a devastating war with Israel.
According to a report by British news agency Reuters, the election of Joseph Aoun reflects a shift in the balance of power in Lebanon and the broader Middle East. Last year’s conflict significantly weakened Hezbollah, and the fall of its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in December also impacted its influence.
Aoun’s election also signals the resurgence of Saudi Arabia’s influence in Lebanon, which had previously been overshadowed by Iran and Hezbollah.
In Lebanon’s confessional power-sharing system, the presidency is reserved for a Maronite Christian. The position had been vacant since October 2022, following the end of Michel Aoun’s term. Deep divisions among the country’s political parties had prevented any candidate from securing the necessary votes in parliament, which has 128 seats.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stated that in Wednesday’s first round of voting, Aoun fell 15 votes short of the required 86, receiving support from 71 members of parliament. However, in the second round, Aoun secured 99 votes after gaining the backing of Hezbollah and its Shia ally, the Amal Movement.
Before Thursday’s vote, Suleiman Frangieh, Hezbollah’s preferred candidate, withdrew from the race and endorsed Aoun. Throughout the day, French and Saudi diplomats reportedly held multiple meetings with politicians in Beirut to rally support for Aoun, according to three political sources cited by Reuters. These efforts significantly paved the way for the U.S.-backed army chief’s election.
A source close to Saudi Arabia’s royal court revealed that, before the vote, French, Saudi, and U.S. diplomats informed Berri, a close ally of Hezbollah, that international financial aid to Lebanon, including from Saudi Arabia, depended on Aoun’s election.
In November, Aoun played a key role in brokering a ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, mediated by Washington and Paris. As part of the deal, it was agreed that the Lebanese army would be deployed to southern Lebanon after the withdrawal of Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters.
The 60-year-old U.S.-backed Aoun has served as Lebanon’s army chief since 2017. He has taken several measures to reduce state institutions’ support for Hezbollah, limiting the armed group’s influence. This longstanding U.S. policy has ensured continued American support for Lebanon’s military.