Lebanese president demands Hezbollah disarm before US ratchets up pressure

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun says his country is determined to disarm Hezbollah.

Aoun calls on the Iran-backed group and other Lebanese parties to seize the opportunity to hand over their weapons sooner rather than later, as Washington increases pressure on Hezbollah to give up its arms.

Beirut is demanding “the extension of the Lebanese state’s authority over all its territory, the removal of weapons from all armed groups including Hezbollah and their handover to the Lebanese army,” Aoun says in a speech to mark Army Day.

Aoun adds that the country will seek $1 billion annually for 10 years to support the army and security forces in Lebanon.

Hezbollah’s leader Qassem Naim said Wednesday that those demanding its disarmament were serving Israeli goals, rebuffing calls for it to lay down its arms.