U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Lebanese-American businessman Massad Boulos to his Cabinet as a senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. Boulos is an accomplished lawyer with extensive international experience. He played a pivotal role in the Trump campaign, serving as a key emissary to mobilize Arab American voters.

The appointment of Boulos comes amid escalating conflicts in West Asia. The Israeli war in Gaza continues to rage, while a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has already seen early violations. Meanwhile, in Syria, rebel forces are making advances against the government of Bashar al-Assad.