Lebanon’s President, General Joseph Aoun, has called on all political parties—including the Shiite group Hezbollah—to hand over their weapons to the Lebanese army, saying the government must disarm non-state militias once and for all to end war and bloodshed on Lebanese soil. Aoun made the appeal during an address marking the 80th anniversary of the country’s armed forces.
“The moment of truth has arrived, and we cannot miss the opportunity to save Lebanon from collapse. All parties, including [the Shiite movement] Hezbollah, must turn over their arms to the Lebanese army,” the president emphasized.
According to Aoun, such a step would help restore national sovereignty across Lebanon’s entire territory. “I call on those who stood against Israeli aggression to put their trust in the army and the state; otherwise, all the sacrifices they have made will have been in vain. The army is the only force capable of guaranteeing stability, unity, and the protection of our borders, and I urge all Lebanese to rally around it,” he said. He also warned that authorities “will show no leniency to those who disregard Lebanon’s salvation.”
The president noted that in recent talks with U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack, he demanded Israel immediately halt military actions in Lebanon—by air, land, and sea. “We will continue to insist on the withdrawal of Israeli forces to internationally recognized borders and the release of detainees,” he stated.
Aoun expressed hope that friendly nations would maintain support for the Lebanese army, which he said needs $1 billion in annual aid. “We expect an international donor conference to be held this autumn focused on postwar reconstruction in Lebanon,” he added.
Touching on relations with Syria, the president said Beirut looks to Saudi Arabia for help in resolving border issues with its neighbor. “We are interested in establishing privileged relations with Syria for the benefit of both peoples,” Aoun stressed.
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Based on materials from TASS