section_path: Military career/Commander of Lebanese Armed Forces
section_name: Commander of Lebanese Armed Forces
paragraph_text: Commander of Lebanese Armed Forces
  
  In 2015, Aoun was appointed commander of the 9th Brigade deployed on the border with Israel. On 8 March 2017, the Lebanese government appointed him commander-in-chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), replacing Jean Kahwaji.
  
  Aoun led battles against the Islamic State campaign in eastern Lebanon, where hundreds of Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front militants were entrenched on the border with Syria. On 19 August 2017, he commanded the Jroud Dawn Operation, a successful offensive to expel the militants from their strongholds.
  
  Following protests in Lebanon and the political deadlock, General Aoun spoke out on 8 March 2021 criticising the Lebanese liquidity crisis and its impact on the military. His speech went viral on social media.
  
  On 15 December 2023, the Lebanese parliament voted to extend Aoun's term for one year, which was mainly endorsed by the Lebanese Opposition, the Amal Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party. During this time, he led the LAF through the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. On 28 November 2024, parliament voted to extend his term a second time.