Lebanon Forms New Government

Lebanon has formed its first full-fledged government since 2022, with Nawaf Salam as the new Prime Minister and Joseph Aoun as President. This development follows more than two years under a caretaker cabinet and aims to address a severe economic crisis, now in its sixth year, which has crippled banks and the electricity sector. The new government is tasked with rebuilding the southern region after a devastating war between Israel and Hezbollah, which ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. Nawaf Salam has vowed to implement judicial and economic reforms and bring stability to Lebanon. The new administration also signals a shift away from leaders closely aligned with Hezbollah, with Beirut hoping to improve relations with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations. The United States and the United Nations have welcomed the new government, emphasizing the importance of reforms and the implementation of UN Resolution 1701.