Aoun, first lady arrive in Doha to offer condolences over emir's passing

BEIRUT — President Joseph Aoun arrived in Doha Tuesday, along with First Lady Nehmat Aoun, to offer condolences to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, following the passing of father, the late Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Aoun was received at the airport by Qatar’s Minister of Transport, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani.

(Nehmat) Aoun, will also offering condolences to the late Sheikh Hamad’s widow, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al Missned.

Lebanon's Grand Mufti Abdel Latif Derian also arrived in Doha to offer his condolences on the passing of the late Emir, NNA reported.

Derian also met with Qatar’s Endowments Minister (Awqaf), Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanem, to convey his condolences on the same occasion. He expressed his "gratitude to the State of Qatar — its Amir, government, and people—for their continued support of Lebanon and for standing by its people and official institutions."

Lebanon lowered its flags at the Grand Serail and the Presidential Palace in Baabda on Monday to mourn the death of Sheikh Hamad, as Prime Minister Nawaf Salam traveled to Doha to offer condolences and Lebanese political figures paid tribute to the late leader.

Qatar's government on Sunday announced the death of its former leader who led the country from 1995 to 2013. He passed away at age 74, according to a government website.

Qatar has provided sustained support to Lebanon, notably contributing $60 million in 2022 to fund military salaries and following up with additional grants of $20 million and scores of military vehicles. In early 2026, Doha also announced a $434 million assistance package targeting the energy sector and armed forces.

Following the July 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon, the Emir of Qatar visited Beirut’s southern suburbs and pledged extensive financial backing. Qatar bankrolled the reconstruction of several heavily destroyed southern villages and later provided hundreds of millions of dollars to aid the Lebanese electricity sector.