Michel Aoun
Michel Aoun, Lebanese military commander and politician. A Maronite Christian, was born in 1935 in Beirut. His family was deeply religious and he attended Catholic schools. Aoun finished his secondary education in 1955 and enrolled in the Military Academy as a cadet officer. Three years later, he graduated as an artillery officer in the Lebanese Army. He later received additional training at Chalons-sur-Marnes, France (1958-59), Fort Seale, Oklahoma in the U.S.A(1966) and the Ecole Superieure de Guerre, France (1978-80).
During the Lebanese Civil War in September 1983, Aoun's 84th Mechanised Infantry Battalion fought Syrian, Druze and Palestinian forces at the battle of Souq el Gharb. In June 1984 Aoun was picked to be commander of the Lebanese army.
On September 22nd 1988 the outgoing president, Amine Gemayel, appointed Aoun prime minister until new elections could be held. This move was unconstitutional as, according to Lebanon’s confessionalist constitution, the position of prime minister was reserved for a Sunni Muslim. Aoun could rely on 40% of the Lebanese army, including nearly all tanks and artillery, Phalangist militia and their Israeli backers plus the support of Iraq’s President Saddam Hussein. Opposed to Aoun was former prime minister Selim al Hoss who was declared as a second prime minister and had the backing of Syria. Two Lebanese governments formed, one civilian under al Hoss based in west Beirut and one military under Aoun in east Beirut. Aoun controlled parts of east Beirut and some neighbouring suburbs. In Spring 1989, Aoun used his army to wrest control of ports held by various militias in order to raise customs revenues for his government.
Support from France and Iraq emboldened Aoun to declare war on Syria on March 14th 1989. Over the next few months Aoun’s army and the Syrians exchanged artillery fire in Beirut until only 100,000 people remained from the original 1 million, the rest having fled. During this period Aoun became critical of American support for Syria and moved closer to Iraq, accepting arms supplies from Saddam Hussein.
In October 1989 Lebanese National Assembly members met to draw up the Taif Accord in an attempt to settle the Lebanese conflict. Aoun refused to attend, denounced the Christian politicians who did so as traitors and issued a decree dissolving the assembly. Aoun lost much support that he had previously had amongst Muslims, who now perceived his policies as another attempt to maintain Maronite supremacy, as a result. As a result of the Taif Accord the assembly met to elect Rene Moawadas President in November. His presidency lasted just 17 days before he was assassinated and Elias Hrawi elected in his place. Hrawi appointed General Émile Lahoud as commander of the army and ordered Aoun out of the Presidential palace. Aoun refused and, instead, moved to eliminate political rivals in his enclave by attacking the Phalange in a war that lasted from January to May 1990. Aoun failed to destroy Samir Geagea’s Phalangists and was left in control of half of east Beirut.
The end approached for Aoun when his Iraqi ally, Saddam Hussein, launched his invasion of Kuwait on August 2nd 1990. Syria’s President Assad sided with America. In return the U.S.A supported Syria in Lebanon. The Syrians attacked on October 13th and Aoun surrendered immediately and fled to the French ambassador’s residence. Ten months later Aoun went into exile in France. Aoun still campaigns to end Syrian influence in Lebanon.
