59 Facts About Michel Aoun

Michel Naim Aoun is a Lebanese politician and former military general who served as the President of Lebanon from 31 October 2016 until 30 October 2022.

Michel Aoun declared the War of Liberation against Syrian Army forces on 14 March 1989, opposed the Taif Agreement, refused to recognize the newly elected presidents Rene Moawad and Elias Hrawi, clashed with the Lebanese Forces led by Samir Geagea, and survived an assassination attempt on 12 October 1990.

Michel Aoun fled to the French Embassy in Beirut where he declared his surrender and was later granted asylum in France where he lived in exile for 15 years.

In exile, Michel Aoun founded the Free Patriotic Movement, and advocated for the Syria Accountability Act by testifying in the US Congress.

Michel Aoun was elected to the Parliament for the first time in the same year, while his party won 21 seats in the parliament, forming the largest Christian bloc, and second biggest bloc in the Parliament.

In 2016, Michel Aoun reconciled with Geagea after signing the Maarab Agreement, and was endorsed by the Lebanese Forces, Future Movement, Progressive Socialist Party as well as Hezbollah to become the thirteenth President of Lebanon.

Michel Aoun is the oldest president, taking office at the age of 83 years.

Michel Aoun's father was Naim Aoun who worked as a butcher, while his mother was Marie Aoun, a Lebanese woman who was born in the United States.

Michel Aoun finished his secondary education at the College Des Freres Furn Al Chebbak in 1955 and finished a degree in Maths.

Michel Aoun enrolled in the Military Academy as a cadet officer, and graduated as an artillery officer in the Lebanese Army three years later.

Michel Aoun was serving during the failed coup of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party in 1961, and was decorated for that.

Michel Aoun was trained at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, and became the Assistant of The Commander of the Second Artillery Battalion, the Commander of the Command and Service Company and Commander of the Administrative Detachment in 1970.

At the start of the civil war, Michel Aoun was the commander of the Second Artillery Corps of the Army.

Michel Aoun took part in the Battle of Tel al-Zaatar, claiming that he developed and planned the siege of the camp and its storming.

Michel Aoun directed the attack, which resulted in destruction of it, and the Palestinian refugees being displaced.

In 1980, Michel Aoun returned to Lebanon and was appointed later as the interim commander of the mainly Christian 8th Infantry Brigade, that is credited for protecting the Palestinian refugee camp of Borj Al Barajneh from the sinister fate of Sabra and Chatila, and fought against the pro-Syrian Druze and Palestinian militias at the Battle of Souk El Gharb during the Mountain War.

Michel Aoun was promoted to General and appointed as the tenth Commander of the Armed Forces on 23 June 1984, succeeding General Ibrahim Tannous.

Michel Aoun had a meeting with Israeli Minister of Defence Ariel Sharon.

Michel Aoun dismissed the civilian administration of acting Prime Minister Selim Hoss.

Michel Aoun says that he considered forming a cabinet of judges or politicians.

On 15 February 1989 General Michel Aoun launched an offensive, with those Lebanese Army Brigades loyal to him, against Geagea's Lebanese Forces positions around Christian East Beirut.

Suleiman Frangieh, in the north, returned control of Ras Salaata port in Batroun District The following month, Michel Aoun launched a blockade against the unregulated seaports south of Beirut at Jieh and Khalde.

Michel Aoun refused to attend, denounced the politicians who did so as traitors, and issued a decree dissolving the assembly.

In February 1990 General Michel Aoun launched an offensive against Samir Geagea's Lebanese Forces in East Beirut.

Michel Aoun had asked for help and the only unconditional help he received was from Saddam Hussein, who until 1989 was an ally of the West.

In 2001, Michel Aoun started working with the Council of Lebanese American Organizations and the Lebanese expatriates in order to change the American public opinion regarding Lebanon.

Michel Aoun contacted Eliot Engel, an American representative, to propose a bill that would help ending the occupation.

Michel Aoun's talks did not lead to the result that he was seeking.

Michel Aoun's testimony was condemned by the Lebanese Council of Ministers and pro-Syrian politicians and organizations, and he was accused of plotting with the Zionist Lobby against Lebanon, Syria and the Arab Nation.

Michel Aoun ended 15 years of self-imposed exile when he returned to Lebanon on 7 May 2005, following the withdrawal of the Syrian Army from Lebanon after the assassination of Rafic Hariri on 14 February 2005.

Michel Aoun held a short press conference at Beirut International Airport before heading with a convoy of loyalists and journalists to the "Grave of the Un-named Soldiers and Martyrs".

Michel Aoun's journey continued to Martyr's Square where he was greeted by supporters of the Cedar Revolution.

Michel Aoun won major Christian districts such as Zahle and Metn.

On 1 December 2006, Michel Aoun declared to a crowd of protesters that the current government of Lebanon was unconstitutional claiming that the government had "made corruption a daily affair" and called for the resignation on the government.

On 11 July 2008, Michel Aoun's party entered the Lebanese government.

Geagea's endorsement of Michel Aoun is the first time the country's two leading Christian parties have come together on such a pivotal issue after decades of animosity.

On 31 October 2016, Michel Aoun was elected the president of Lebanon, ending a 29-month vacuum at the head of the state.

The first round of voting required a two-thirds majority of the house, meaning 85 votes of the 127 member chamber, but Michel Aoun closely failed to secure the necessary votes for the round winning just 83 votes, two less than required, while there were 36 blank ballots, 6 cancelled ballots and one ballot for MP Gilberte Zouein.

Michel Aoun was quickly sworn in as president, pledging political and economic reform and urging a "real partnership" among notoriously divided Lebanese political factions.

Michel Aoun described Hezbollah a threat to the security of Lebanon, and compared the situation in Lebanon with the one before the assassination of Rafic Hariri.

Michel Aoun decided to suspend the resignation after meeting Aoun, who told him to postpone the thing until other consultations.

Michel Aoun supported Hariri's reforms but did confirm a need to "review the current government" within the "state institutions", and not through protesting.

Michel Aoun accused protesters of "stabbing the nation with a dagger" and accused protesters that blocked roads of "violating international law".

Michel Aoun stated that "anyone who cannot find faith in the current Lebanese government can leave Lebanon and live somewhere else".

Michel Aoun's interview proved exceedingly unpopular with the protest movement, which began blocking dozens of arterial roads in Beirut and across Lebanon.

Michel Aoun was again appointed President of the Council of Ministers after binding parliamentary consultations led by Michel Aoun.

In conflict with Michel Aoun concerning the distribution of ministerial posts, Saad Hariri gave up on a government formation on July 15,2021.

Michel Aoun expressed intention government would make up to 100billion pounds in aid available to support recovery operations.

Michel Aoun accepted the resignation of the government and the Prime Minister, and asked the government to stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is formed.

Michel Aoun signed the government's resignation decree, a day before his six-year term officially ended, and Prime Minister Najib Mikati's government remains in office in a caretaker capacity which is unconstitutional since it goes against Michel Aoun's request for the cabinet's step-down after numerous attempts failed to form a new cabinet.

Michel Aoun's present strategy is an alleged "war against corruption".

Since the end of the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, General Michel Aoun has been seeking to improve his country's relationship with Syria.

Michel Aoun has treated all Lebanese parties as potential partners in the process of change and reform of the country.

In September 2015, Michel Aoun sponsored the candidacy of his son-in law, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, to the FPM leadership post.

Michel Aoun explained why he turned back on the West and forged an alliance with the Axis of Resistance in a speech in May 2008 by saying:.

The second one is Claudine Michel Aoun who serves as the president of the Arab Women Organization since 2019 and the National Commission For Lebanese Women since 2017, and married to Brigadier-General Chamel Roukoz, a decorated officer who took part in Michel Aoun's liberation war, Nahr al-Bared conflict and Battle of Sidon.

Michel Aoun is a Member of Parliament, elected in the 2018.

Michel Aoun served as a minister in different cabinets, and succeeded Aoun as president of the Free Patriotic Movement in 2015.

Michel Aoun's nephew, Alain Aoun, is a Member of Parliament, elected in 2009 and 2018.