Lebanon’s parliament elected army chief Joseph Aoun head of state on Thursday, filling the vacant presidency with a general who enjoys U.S. approval and showing the diminished sway of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group after its devastating war with Israel. It also indicated a revival of Saudi influence in a country where Riyadh’s role was eclipsed by Iran and Hezbollah long ago. The terms require the Lebanese military to deploy into south Lebanon as Israeli troops and Hezbollah withdraw forces. Aoun, 60, has been commander of the U.S.-backed Lebanese army since 2017. On his watch, U.S. aid continued to flow to the army, part of a long-standing U.S. policy focused on supporting state institutions to curb Hezbollah’s influence.

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Persons: Joseph Aoun, Bashar al, Assad, Michel Aoun’s, Aoun, Nabih Berri, Suleiman Frangieh, Anwar, ” Michel Mouawad, “ Organizations: Maronite, Amal Movement, Anwar Amro, Getty, Reuters, World Bank, Washington, Lebanese Locations: Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi, Aoun, Beirut, AFP, Paris, U.S