Caretaker Minister Ghosn to LBCI: I will sign resolution to postpone retirement of LAF Commander

Caretaker Minister of Defense Fayez Ghosn announced on Tuesday that he will sign on Wednesday the resolution stipulating the deferral of the Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Jean Kahwagi's retirement for a period of two years as a means to avoid a state of vacuum in the leadership of the military institution.

Caretaker Minister Ghosn told LBCI that he is still awaiting a final draft of the resolution, as well as "the results of the last minute contacts."

The extension of Kahwagi’s term, which expires on September 23th, aims at avoiding a leadership vacuum in the military establishment amid serious threats facing Lebanon as a result of the war taking place in neighboring Syria.

While Change and Reform bloc head MP Michel Aoun opposes Kahwagi’s extension, the move is supported by his March 8 allies Hezbollah, Amal and the Marada Movement.

The extension of Kahwagi’s term comes amid Parliament’s failure to convene to draft a law over the extension by raising the retirement age of top security and military officials.