Lebanese President Demands Hezbollah Disarmament, Urges State Arms Control

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has strongly reiterated the necessity of disarming Hezbollah and ensuring that weapons are held exclusively by the Lebanese army and security forces to restore state sovereignty and security. Speaking on Army Day, Aoun emphasized the importance of national unity and institutional control over arms to confront ongoing Israeli violations and aggression, including continued strikes in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire. He proposed a government plan to Washington that demands Israel cease attacks and withdraw from occupied territories alongside Hezbollah's disarmament, with a cabinet meeting scheduled to discuss this roadmap. Hezbollah, however, rejects calls to surrender its weapons, claiming such demands serve Israeli interests, with its leader Naim Qassem accusing the U.S. envoy of intimidation. The issue remains a significant point of tension, with the U.S. and Lebanon pushing for Hezbollah's disarmament as a precondition to resuming talks to halt Israeli military operations. Aoun stressed that achieving a state monopoly on weapons is crucial for Lebanon's sovereignty and the protection of all its citizens, aiming to end the cycle of violence and rebuild national unity.