General Haykal presenting General Lázaro, the Commander-in-Chief of UNIFIL, with a commemorative shield in recognition of his efforts to support the military establishment. Photo taken from the Lebanese Army website.
His appointment went smoothly during the Cabinet meeting on Thursday. But for Rodolphe Haykal, the newly appointed commander-in-chief of the Lebanese Army, the mission ahead is no small task. And if recent history is any guide, he could well be the next president.Haykal was unanimously appointed on March 5, following closed-door meetings between President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and representatives of Lebanon’s main parliamentary blocs — the Lebanese Forces, Hezbollah, Amal and the Progressive Socialist Party.A native of Aktanit in the Zahrani district of southern Lebanon, Haykal has steadily risen through the ranks since joining the army in 1990, in the aftermath of the Civil War. "He has held the most important and sensitive positions," said Hassan Jouneh, a former officer and university professor....
His appointment went smoothly during the Cabinet meeting on Thursday. But for Rodolphe Haykal, the newly appointed commander-in-chief of the Lebanese Army, the mission ahead is no small task. And if recent history is any guide, he could well be the next president.Haykal was unanimously appointed on March 5, following closed-door meetings between President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and representatives of Lebanon’s main parliamentary blocs — the Lebanese Forces, Hezbollah, Amal and the Progressive Socialist Party.A native of Aktanit in the Zahrani district of southern Lebanon, Haykal has steadily risen through the ranks since joining the army in 1990, in the aftermath of the Civil War. "He has held the most important and sensitive positions," said Hassan Jouneh, a former officer and university professor....