BEIRUT — Lebanon’s new government appointed new heads for its military and security institutions during a cabinet meeting chaired by President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda on Thursday as the new leadership works to stabilize the country after years of political deadlock and the Israel-Hezbollah war.

The cabinet approved the appointment of Brig. Gen. Rodolph Haykal as commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, Brig. Gen. Raed Abdallah as director of the Internal Security Forces and Brig. Gen. Hassan Choucair as director of General Security. Brig. Gen. Edgard Lawandos was appointed as director of State Security.

“The army and security appointments were made according to expertise and competency,” Information Minister Paul Morkos told reporters following the cabinet meeting.

Much like the presidency and other leadership positions, key security functions in Lebanon are allocated based on the country's sectarian power-sharing system, with the roles of army commander, general security chief and ISF head assigned to Maronite Christian, Shiite Muslim and Sunni Muslim figures, respectively.