lebanon-elects-army-commander-joseph-aoun-as-president

Lebanon's parliament voted on Thursday to elect the country's army commander, Joseph Aoun, as president, ending a presidential vacuum that had lasted for more than two years.

The session marked the legislature’s 13th attempt to elect a successor to former President Michel Aoun – who is not related to the army commander – after his term ended in October 2022.

The vote comes weeks after a fragile ceasefire agreement ended a 14-month conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, and as Lebanon’s leaders seek international aid for reconstruction.

Aoun was widely regarded as the preferred candidate of the United States and Saudi Arabia, whose support Lebanon will need to ensure Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon, as stipulated in the agreement, and to fund post-war rebuilding efforts.