Lebanon forms new government for 1st time since 2022

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam formed a new government on Saturday, the first since 2022.

President Joseph Aoun said in a statement that he had accepted the resignation of former caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and signed a decree with Salam to form the new government.

Secretary-General of the Prime Minister's Office, Mahmoud Makiya, told reporters that the new government will include 24 ministers, including Salam.

According to Makiya, Tarek Metri was appointed as deputy premier, Yusuf Raji foreign minister, Michel Mansi as defense minister, and Yassin Jaber as finance minister.

Aoun was elected president on Jan. 9, ending more than two years of a presidential vacuum in Lebanon due to political disagreements.

Days after his election, Aoun invited Salam, a judge with the International Court of Justice, to form a new government.