Joseph Aoun (born January 10, 1964, Sin el Fil, Lebanon) is a Lebanese military officer and political figure who has served as president of Lebanon since January 2025. Before his election, he served as commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) from 2017 to 2025, overseeing the military during a period of economic collapse, domestic unrest, and regional conflict.
Joseph Aoun was born into a Maronite Christian family in the Beirut suburb of Sin el Fil. He enrolled in the Lebanese Military Academy in 1983 during the Lebanese Civil War and was commissioned as an officer in 1985. Over the following decades, he advanced steadily through the ranks, serving in various command and operational roles, including in elite and infantry units.
Aoun received additional military training abroad, including in the United States, and built a reputation as a disciplined and professional officer. He held a series of command positions, including leadership of the 9th Infantry Brigade, which operated in southern Lebanon and later along the Syrian border amid the spillover from the Syrian civil war.
In March 2017, Aoun was appointed commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces. During his tenure, he led operations against militant groups along the Lebanon-Syria border, including efforts coordinated with other regional actors to contain the Islamic State.
As army chief, Aoun sought to preserve the military’s cohesion and neutrality in a deeply divided political system. During the nationwide protests that began in October 2019, the army was deployed to maintain order but generally avoided confrontation with demonstrators.
His leadership was further tested by Lebanon’s severe economic crisis, which sharply reduced soldiers’ salaries and threatened institutional stability. Aoun publicly criticized political leaders for inaction, warning of deteriorating conditions within the armed forces.
He also oversaw the army’s response to major national emergencies, including the 2020 Beirut port explosion and ongoing security challenges related to Hezbollah, Israel, and regional instability. Throughout these crises, he maintained a policy of keeping the army largely outside confrontation in conflicts involving Hezbollah and Israel, prioritizing internal stability.
Aoun was widely viewed as a nonpartisan figure in Lebanon’s sectarian political system. He maintained a low public profile, avoided overt political alignment, and emphasized the army’s institutional role over political engagement. Analysts and officials described him as pragmatic, disciplined, and focused on preserving state stability.
His position as army commander placed him at the center of international engagement with Lebanon, particularly with the United States and other countries that provided military and financial support to the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Following more than two years of political deadlock after the end of President Michel Aoun’s term in 2022, the Lebanese parliament elected Joseph Aoun as president on January 9, 2025. He secured broad parliamentary support, ending the prolonged vacancy in the presidency.
His election reflected both internal consensus around the army as a relatively stable national institution and external backing from international actors seeking to stabilize Lebanon.
Upon taking office, Aoun pledged to rebuild state institutions, address Lebanon’s economic crisis, and restore government authority. He emphasized the need for a state monopoly over arms. He moved to assert greater control over non-state militias, including efforts to limit the military capabilities of Hezbollah and armed groups in Palestinian refugee camps.
His presidency has been shaped by ongoing regional tensions, including the aftermath of the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah conflict, continued Israeli military activity in Lebanon, and broader instability involving Iran and neighboring states. He has advocated for de-escalation while seeking to strengthen the role of the Lebanese state and military in maintaining security.
Joseph Aoun is married and has two children. He is fluent in Arabic, French, and English and holds degrees in political science and military science.
Source: “Joseph Aoun,” Lebanese Army.
“Who is Joseph Aoun, the Lebanese army commander elected president?” Reuters, (January 9, 2025)
Abby Sewell, “Who is Joseph Aoun, a low-profile army chief who is now Lebanon’s president?” AP, (January 10, 2025).
Laure Stephan, “Who is Joseph Aoun, Lebanon's new president?” Le Monde, (January 11, 2025).
“Joseph Aoun,” Britannica, (April 16, 2026).
Photo: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.