Lebanon Turns a Political Page as Hezbollah’s Hold Is Weakened
New York TimesJAN 11
Lebanon Forms New Government After Two Years of Deadlock
Above: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun hosts then Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at Baabda Palace in Beirut on Feb. 5, 2025, as part of efforts to form a new government Image copyright: Lebanese Presidency/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Facts
Lebanon's Pres. Joseph Aoun has announced the formation of a new government under the leadership of newly appointed Nawaf Salam, a former president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This marks the first full-fledged government in the country since 2022.
Elected last month, the president over the weekend signed decrees formally accepting the resignation of the former caretaker government of Najib Mikati, appointing Salam to form the new government, and ordering the formation of a government of 24 ministers.
In a speech on Saturday, Salam said that he will carry out reforms to drag the country out of its severe economic crisis, restore confidence in Lebanon, and implement the UN Security Council Resolution 1701 that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
A new political chapter has begun in Lebanon, with Hezbollah excluded from the government for the first time in almost two decades, as the Shia group has lost much of its influence amid changes in regional power dynamics. The West must help the new government dismantle Hezbollah and bring stability to the country.
Establishment-critical narrative
America and its allies have sought to meddle in Lebanese politics to anti-democratically exclude Shia Muslims from the new government, but to no avail, as running the country without them would be impossible. Hezbollah and its allies Amal are part of the Lebanese society and must be treated as such.