Lebanon appoints new armed forces commander

By Wassim Seifeddine

ISTANBUL

Lebanon’s cabinet on Wednesday appointed Joseph Aoun as commander of Lebanon’s armed forces after promoting him to the rank of general, according to Lebanon’s official news agency.

Aoun, who replaces Gen. Jean Kahwaji at the post, is known to be close to President Michel Aoun, although they are not related.

Since last year, Joseph Aoun had served as commander of the army’s 9th Brigade, which is deployed on Lebanon’s border with Syria.

Born in 1964 in the southern town of Ayshiyyeh, Aoun is fluent in French, English and Spanish.