BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s new prime minister on Saturday formed the country’s first full-fledged government since 2022. President Joseph Aoun announced in a statement that he had accepted the resignation of the former caretaker government and signed a decree with new Prime Minister Nawaf Salam forming the new government.

Lebanon formed a new government on Saturday, Lebanon's presidency announced, following unusually direct U.S. intervention in the process and bringing the country closer to accessing reconstruction funds following last year's devastating war between Israel and Hezbollah.

A senior US official visiting Beirut warned on Friday against any Hezbollah presence in Lebanon's new government, saying the Iran-backed group was "defeated" in its war with Israel.

BEIRUT: Lebanon's presidency announced on Saturday that a new government had been formed, ending more than two years of an interim cabinet. President Joseph Aoun signed three decrees, the presidency said in a post on X,