Samir MouqbelSamir Mokbel is a Lebanese politician. He was the deputy prime minister and defense minister of Lebanon.Early life and educationMouqbel was born in 1939. He graduated from the American University of Beirut with a degree in civil engineering.CareerMouqbel is a Greek Orthodox Christian Independent, and was Lebanon's first state minister responsible for environment from 1992 to 1995 in the first cabinet of Rafic Hariri. He was appointed deputy to the prime minister Najib Mikati on 13 June 2011. He was reappointed deputy prime minister in the cabinet led by Tammam Salam in February 2013. He was also appointed defense minister, replacing Fayez Ghosn in the post.