Death, destruction, and senseless wars need to stop, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Thursday during an Army Day speech in Beirut, Riyadh-based Al Arabiya news channel reported. He appeared ready to push for Hezbollah disarmament.
Aoun had called for “arms control,” according to Beirut-based Al Akhbar newspaper, which is generally seen as pro-Hezbollah.
He spoke about the importance of Lebanon’s sovereignty and the sanctity of its borders, the report said.
“He stressed that it is the duty of all political forces to support the restriction of arms to the army without hesitation, emphasizing Lebanon’s readiness to withdraw Hezbollah’s weapons and hand them over to the army,” Al Akhbar reported.
This is interpreted as Lebanon’s government finally being ready to take weapons from Hezbollah. How the country will do this is unclear.
This sounds like a lot of generalization.
Aoun spoke about the need for a “comprehensive approach to restricting the possession of weapons to the army and security forces,” Al Akhbar reported. “He revealed details of negotiations with the United States regarding a ceasefire, borders, security, and reconstruction.”
Discussing the Israel-Hezbollah war
“It is my duty and the duty of all political parties, through the Council of Ministers, the Supreme Defense Council, the Parliament, and all political forces, to seize this historic opportunity and, without hesitation, push to affirm the exclusivity of weapons in the hands of the army and security forces, exclusively, and on all Lebanese territory, today before tomorrow,” the report said.
Aoun also spoke about reconstruction and Israeli “aggression.” He discussed the need for a survey of areas damaged in the war last year.
On the security front, Aoun discussed the need for talks with the US to implement the November 2024 ceasefire.
“The American side presented us with a draft of ideas, to which we made substantial amendments,” he said. “These will be presented to the Council of Ministers early next week in accordance with the rules.”
Aoun also listed key points he wanted to see dealt with. These include “an immediate cessation of Israeli hostilities, in the air, on land and at sea, including assassinations,” as well as Israel withdrawing from Lebanese territory.
It also involved “extending the state’s authority over all its territories, withdrawing the weapons of all armed forces, ‘including Hezbollah,’ and handing them over to the Lebanese Army.”
Beirut wants $1 billion in support for the Lebanese army.
“An international donor conference for Lebanon’s reconstruction will be held next fall,” Aoun said, adding that he also wants to demarcate Lebanon’s borders with Syria with support from the US.