Lebanon's parliament has successfully elected the US-backed army chief as the country's new president, putting an end to a prolonged political stalemate and presidential vacuum. Army chief Joseph Aoun secured the presidency after two rounds of voting, following extensive efforts by Saudi Arabia and the United States to garner support for Aoun, who maintains close ties with Washington and Riyadh.
Upon being declared president, Aoun transitioned from his military role and arrived at parliament dressed in civilian attire to be sworn in as the new leader. This development marks the resolution of Lebanon's presidential vacancy since the conclusion of former President Michel Aoun's term in October 2022. Notably, the former president was supported by Iran-backed Hezbollah, leading to unsuccessful negotiations for his successor and reigniting tensions between Lebanon's pro-Western and pro-Iranian factions.
