1. Joseph Khalil Aoun is a Lebanese politician and army general who has served as the 14th president of Lebanon since 9 January 2025.
25 Facts About Joseph Aoun
1. 2.
Joseph Aoun has previously served as the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, and is the fifth commander elected president.
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Joseph Aoun completed secondary school at the College des Freres Mont La Salle.
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Joseph Aoun's family is originally from the town of Al-Aaishiyah, Southern Lebanon.
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Joseph Aoun enrolled at the Lebanese American University to pursue a bachelor's degree in political science and international affairs, which he earned in 2007.
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Joseph Aoun holds a bachelor's degree in military science from the Lebanese Army Military Academy.
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Joseph Aoun joined the Lebanese army in 1983 and enrolled in the military academy during the Lebanese civil war.
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Joseph Aoun trained abroad, especially in the United States and Syria.
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Joseph Aoun underwent counter-terrorism training in the United States in 2008 and Lebanon in 2013.
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Joseph Aoun became head of the army's 9th Infantry Brigade in 2015.
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In 1990, Joseph Aoun served as a lieutenant in the Lebanese Army's Commando Regiment under leader Bassam Gergi at the Adma barracks.
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Gergi was killed and Joseph Aoun took over leadership within the unit.
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In 2015, Joseph Aoun was appointed commander of the 9th Brigade deployed on the border with Israel.
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Joseph 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.
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On 9 January 2025, Joseph Aoun was elected president in the second round of the electoral session.
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Joseph Aoun stated that he would promote economic, political, and judicial reform.
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Joseph Aoun addressed controversial issues among the Lebanese people, such as:.
18.
In one of his first acts as president, Joseph Aoun nominated Nawaf Salam, the head of the International Court of Justice, as Prime Minister of Lebanon after winning the majority of votes by the members of parliament.
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Salam and Joseph Aoun's election is seen as a manifestation of Hezbollah's diminished influence in Lebanese politics, partly due to the group's military and financial losses in the conflict with Israel and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria.
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Joseph Aoun formally appointed Salam as Prime Minister on 8 February 2025.
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Joseph Aoun emphasized direct talks between the presidency and Hezbollah to establish "modalities" for transferring weapons to state control.
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Joseph Aoun stated that he aims to make 2025 the year of "state monopoly on arms".
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The Lebanese Army, under Joseph Aoun's direction, was tasked with confiscating weapons and dismantling unauthorized military facilities in southern Lebanon.
24.
Joseph Aoun's son, Khalil Aoun, is a basketball forward, currently playing for Antranik, and played in his career with Champville, Hoops Club and Louaize.
25.
Joseph Aoun 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.