Elias Bejjani/Text & Video: The “Government of the Advisors’ Battalion” at Baabda Palace Complements Hezbollah’s Battalions of Civilians, Media, and Clans
The “Government of the Advisors’ Battalion” at Baabda Palace Complements Hezbollah’s Battalions of Civilians, Media, and Clans Elias Bejjani/June 11/2025
Every Lebanese has the right to ask: Has President Joseph Aoun decided to govern through a “government of advisors” assembled at Baabda Palace, instead of relying on the constitutional cabinet led by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam?
The president has turned the palace into a hub for advisors—most of whom are either remnants of the previous regime or politically affiliated with Hezbollah—as if we are reliving the era of Syrian occupation, when puppet cabinets were overshadowed by real centers of power hidden in the shadows.
More troubling is Aoun’s comfort with appointing figures directly tied to Hezbollah. Case in point: former Minister Ali Hamieh, a loyalist of Hezbollah who served in Najib Mikati’s cabinet, now inexplicably named “advisor for reconstruction.”
Has even the file of reconstruction become a Hezbollah domain? Are national matters now run through the so-called “advisors’ battalion” in Baabda, under the command of the Shiite duo?
Reviewing the names of many of these advisors, reveals a lineup either closely tied to former President Michel Aoun, or directly aligned with the so-called “Resistance Axis.” In this context, this is not a presidency; it is a Hezbollah proxy. These “advisors” are not neutral technocrats—they are political operatives embedded to advance the Hezbollah’s agenda.
Are we facing a new shadow government? Has the president surrendered his constitutional responsibilities to a clique of unelected influencers? Has the presidency become merely another Hezbollah tool after it failed to seize full control through the Grand Serail?
Since assuming office, Joseph Aoun has demonstrated a staggering disconnect between the solemn vows of his presidential oath, and the political choices he has made. He pledged to protect the constitution and assert sovereignty, yet has set no timetable for the disarmament of Hezbollah. He has completely ignored UN Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1701, and 1680—all of which mandate the disarmament of all militias and the exclusive control of arms by the state. These resolutions do not speak of dialogue with armed groups. The state does not negotiate over its sovereignty. It imposes it.
By proposing “dialogue” and “a national defense strategy,” Joseph Aoun is merely playing for time. These are evasions—designed to accommodate Hezbollah, not confront it. They strengthen its grip and prolong the occupation of state institutions. This is not leadership. It is appeasement.
Let us be frank: Hezbollah’s battalions are no longer limited to media propagandists, tribal militias, or civilians used as human shields in attacks—such as those on UNIFIL forces in the South. Today, a new battalion has joined the fray: the “advisors’ battalion” at Baabda Palace. Under Joseph Aoun, the presidency has morphed into an outpost for Hezbollah, where decisions are made not in service of the Lebanese constitution, but in loyalty to the occupying power’s interests.
It is deeply disheartening that Joseph Aoun has, thus far, proven to be a disappointment. He has relinquished even the appearance of independence, becoming yet another decorative president in the mold of his post-Taif predecessors: Elias Hrawi, Emile Lahoud, and Michel Aoun. They all wore the presidential sash, but the real power was never theirs—and it certainly isn’t now.
In conclusion: there can be no resurrection of Lebanon, no sovereignty, no independence, and no reconstruction, so long as the country is governed by men who are either incapable or unwilling to exercise their constitutional mandate—presidents who lack the courage to stand up, and the clarity to lead. Those who cannot say “no” to Hezbollah must step aside…. Lebanon will not be saved by advisors, nor by battalions, but by leaders.
