Lebanon’s parliament voted Thursday to elect army commander Joseph Aoun as head of state, filling a more than two-year-long presidential vacuum. The vote came weeks after a tenuous ceasefire agreement halted a 14-month conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and at a time when Lebanon’s leaders are seeking

The outcome showed the diminished sway of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group after its devastating war with Israel.

Lebanese government bonds extended their three-month-long rally on Thursday as the crisis-ravaged country's parliament voted in a new head of state for the first time since 2022.

As the country endured economic crisis and a devastating war, lawmakers failed 12 times to pick a head of state. They have now settled on Joseph Aoun, the leader of the military.

General Joseph Aoun was widely seen as the preferred candidate of the United States, which funds, trains, and arms the Lebanese military and helped broker a cease-fire between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah in November.

General Joseph Aoun secured 99 votes from the 128-seat parliament, after winning an endorsement from the Hezbollah-backed candidate. The career soldier is the fifth army commander to be elected president in Lebanon’s history.

Lebanon’s parliament is set to convene Thursday to attempt to elect a head of state for the 13th time during a presidential vacuum of over two years.

NOW A LOT OF THE DAMAGE FROM THIS THREE STORY BUILDING IS ON THE OTHER SIDE. AND WE CAN SHOW YOU THAT HERE. THE FIRE CHIEF SAYS THAT THE FIRE AT 39 MECHANIC STREET WAS REPORTED JUST BEFORE 11:00 LAST NIGHT.

A Lebanon County hoagie shop lost everything in a devastating fire early Friday morning. The fire broke out at Hoagies on Main in the 600 block of West Main Street in Palmyra Borough around 1 a.m. Crews from the Palmyra Fire Department and surrounding fire companies tackled the blaze until about 4 a.m.

A historic house located at 1342 King Street in Lebanon has a new owner. The 1,575-square-foot property, built in 1910, was sold on Dec. 31, 2024. The $220,000 purchase price works out to $140 per square foot.

A house located at 21 Green Woods Lane in Lebanon has new owners. The 1,587-square-foot property, built in 1973, was sold on Dec. 31, 2024. The $399,900 purchase price works out to $252 per square foot.