Joseph Aoun

Hezbollah at War: What Comes Next for Lebanon and the Region

Lebanon declares Iranian ambassador-designate ‘persona non grata’ before Iranian missile explodes over Lebanese airspace

On March 24, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi announced that he had instructed his ministry’s secretary-general “to summon the Iranian Charge d’Affaires in Lebanon,”...

Lebanons’ second chance

This conflict could finally free Beirut from Hezbollah

Time for Lebanon to Partner with Israel Against Hezbollah

Now that Lebanon and Israel’s interests are so clearly aligned in disarming Hezbollah, the time has come for the two states to cooperate toward this shared goal and lay the groundwork for peace. On...

Lebanon war intensifies as IDF strikes harder and Hezbollah escalates attacks

The renewed Lebanon war, now just over a week old, has witnessed a gradual intensification of attacks by Israel and Hezbollah between March 8 and 11, with both sides making clear their current disinterest...

Israel’s Goals and Challenges in the New Hezbollah War

Hezbollah’s opening of a front from Lebanon in support of Iran was not a surprise for Israel, which is again discussing the forcible dismantling of the organization. It remains unclear whether...

Hezbollah leader vows to fight until the end in renewed war with Israel

On March 2 at approximately 1:30 am, Hezbollah attacked Israel with several rockets and drones for the first time since the November 27, 2024, ceasefire went into effect. The group officially claimed the...

Time for Lebanon’s De-Hezbollahfication

Lebanon has tasted the nightmare Israel faced on October 7, 2023. Iran’s Islamist regime and its proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, are irrational actors who cannot be trusted with a single bullet, let alone...

What the LAF Chief’s Visit to the U.S. Revealed

Lindsey Graham portrayed his meeting with Rodolphe Haykal, which collapsed within minutes, as a complete debacle. The U.S. senator asked the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) chief if Hezbollah was a terrorist...

Lebanon’s Own Laws Require Disarming Muslim Brotherhood Branch Designated by U.S. as Terror Group

The United States took aim at Islamic Group (IG), the Muslim Brotherhood’s Lebanese branch on January 13. The U.S. State Department designated IG as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and designated...

‘Far From Sufficient’: Israel Criticizes Lebanon’s Underwhelming Results in Disarming Hezbollah

Israel Says Hezbollah Rearming at Alarming Speed: Israel’s Foreign Ministry stated on January 8 that Lebanese optimism regarding the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist...

Why was Sharaa Invited to Washington, but not Aoun?

For all his efforts, Joseph Aoun deserves Washington’s active support to enable him to accomplish even more. Until late 2024, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was a U.S.-designated terrorist with...

How Qatar Can Help Lebanon

Hezbollah’s efforts to regenerate have seemingly reached a critical juncture. In one of the most escalatory actions since the ceasefire took effect in Lebanon last November, Israel eliminated Hezbollah’s...

The Clock Ticks on Lebanon’s Empty Promises

The next war will not wait for Lebanon to find its courage. One year on from Lebanon’s signing of the November 27, 2024 Cessation of Hostilities with Israel, Beirut’s agreement to enforce UN Security...

Israel Killed Top Commander Because Lebanon Isn’t Disarming Hezbollah

Hezbollah’s active and ongoing regeneration is leading Israel to take increasingly drastic measures to hinder the group’s rearmament. On November 23, an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building...

‘The Zionists Should Be Worried’: Hezbollah Mulls Response After IDF Strike Eliminates Key Commander  

Warning Issued at Terror Commander’s Funeral: Sheikh Ali Daamoush, who leads Hezbollah’s executive council, warned on November 24 that “the Zionists should be worried” after...

Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah: November 3–9, 2025

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted numerous operations throughout Lebanon against Hezbollah between November 3 and November 9, 2025. Israeli activities this week were concentrated almost exclusively...

Israel Strikes Hezbollah Targets in Lebanon as Terrorist Group Warns Against Direct Negotiations With Jerusalem

‘Wave of Strikes’ Against Hezbollah: The IDF announced on November 6 that it had launched “a wave of strikes” targeting the Iran-backed terrorist organization Hezbollah...

Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah: October 27–November 2, 2025

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted numerous operations throughout Lebanon against Hezbollah between October 27 and November 2, 2025. Israeli activities this week were particularly intense and concentrated...

Aoun’s Push for Talks with Israel Must Overcome Hezbollah’s Ploys

Hezbollah and Berri likely hope to use talks to get the US and Israel off their backs and keep Hezbollah armed.