Joseph Aoun | |
---|---|
جوزيف عون | |
14th Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces | |
Assumed office 8 March 2017 | |
President | Michel Aoun |
Preceded by | Jean Kahwaji |
Personal details | |
Born | Sin el Fil,Mount Lebanon,Lebanon | 10 January 1964
Spouse | Nehmat Nehmeh |
Alma mater | Lebanese American University (BA) Lebanese Army Military Academy |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Lebanon |
Branch/service | Lebanese Army |
Years of service | 1983–present |
Rank | General |
Joseph Khalil Aoun (Arabic :جوزيفخليلعون,born 10 January 1964) is a Lebanese general who has served as the 14th Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces since 2017. He began his career in the Lebanese Army in 1983,and was steadily promoted until he reached the rank of Brigadier General in 2013.
Aoun was born on January 10,1964 in the Beirut suburb of Sin el-Fil in the Metn District,the child of Hoda Ibrahim Makhlouta and Khalil Aoun. [1] Aoun completed secondary school at the Collège des Frères Mont La Salle. His family is originally from the town of Al-Aaishiyah,Southern Lebanon.
He enrolled at the Lebanese American University to pursue a bachelor's degree in political science and international affairs,which he earned in 2007. Aoun also holds a bachelor's degree in military science from the Lebanese Army Military Academy. [2] [3] [4]
Joseph Aoun is married to Nehmat Nehmeh. They have two children,Khalil and Nour. He is fluent in Arabic,French and English. [5] [6] Contrary to popular belief,he is unrelated to former President of Lebanon and fellow Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces,Michel Aoun. [7]
Aoun joined the Lebanese army in 1983. He trained abroad,especially in the United States and Syria. He also underwent counter-terrorism training in the United States in 2008 and Lebanon in 2013. He has headed the army's 9th Infantry Brigade since 2015.
In 1990,Joseph Aoun served as a lieutenant under the command of Maghaweer leader Bassam Gergi at the Adma barracks. During the Adma Battle in the Elimination War,Gergi was killed and Aoun took over leadership within the Maghawir group. [8] [9]
Aoun’s role began to rise in 2015 when he was appointed commander of the 9th Brigade deployed on the border with Israel. On 8 March 2017,the Lebanese government appointed Joseph Aoun commander-in-chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces,replacing Jean Kahwaji. [10]
Aoun led battles against the ISIS campaign in eastern Lebanon yet,where hundreds of militants from the Nusra Front and the Islamic State (ISIS) were entrenched in barren areas on the border with Syria. [3] In August 19,2017 he commanded the Jroud Dawn Operation which was a successful offensive to expel the Islamist militants from their strongholds. [11]
Following the protests in Lebanon and with the deadlock of the formation of the government,General Aoun made a speech on March 8,2021 concerning the local and regional situation. Aoun focused on the economic crisis and its impact on the military staff and addressed the political class:"Where are we going? What are you waiting for? What do you plan to do? We have warned more than once of the danger of the situation." His speech went viral on social media. [12]
On December 15,2023,the Lebanese parliament voted to extend Aoun's term for one year which was mainly endorsed by the Lebanese Opposition,the Amal Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party. [13] During this time,he led the LAF through the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. On November 28,2024,parliament voted to extend his term a second time. [14]
Aoun's possible candidacy was first raised by Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in July 2022 who suggested that he would make a good successor to Michel Aoun. [15] Qatar declared support for his candidacy during a visit by officials as they vowed to support the army with financial and military aid,the United States also followed with support. [16] A 5-nation group was formed by the Doha envoy which involved the United States,France,KSA,and Egypt to hold talks and solve the presidential vacancy in Lebanon in which most countries affirmed its support for the election of Joseph Aoun. [17]
Ribbon | Description | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
War Medal | 3-time recipient | [18] [19] | |
Medal of the Wounded | 2-time recipient | ||
Medal of National Unity | |||
Medal of the "Dawn of the South" | |||
Military Valour Medal,Silver | |||
Order of Merit,third class | |||
Order of Merit,second class | |||
Order of Merit,second class | |||
Knight of the National Order of the Cedar | |||
Officer of the National Order of the Cedar |
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