Lebanons army chief Joseph Aoun walks after being elected as the country's President at the parliament building in Beirut
Lebanon's new president to work to ensure state has exclusive right to carry arms
Newly elected President Joseph Aoun’s comments at parliament are seen partly as a reference to Hezbollah's arsenal.
Thursday 09/01/2025
Lebanons army chief Joseph Aoun walks after being elected as the country's President at the parliament building in Beirut
BEIRUT - Lebanon's newly elected President Joseph Aoun told lawmakers on Thursday that he will work to ensure the state has the exclusive right to carry arms, in his first speech at parliament after he was elected.
His comments were seen partly as a reference to Hezbollah's arsenal, which he had not commented on publicly as the former army commander.
Lebanese lawmakers elected Aoun as head of state on Thursday, filling the vacant presidency with a general who enjoys US approval and showing the diminished sway of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group after its devastating war with Israel.