Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stepped up his calls for Hezbollah to disarm on Thursday, suggesting failure to do so would give Israel an excuse to continue attacks and saying the issue would be on the agenda of a cabinet meeting next week.

In the address, Aoun added that the country would seek $1 billion annually for 10 years to support the army and security forces in Lebanon. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said on Thursday that Lebanese political parties need to seize the opportunity and hand over their weapons sooner rather than later,

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated calls for the militant group Hezbollah to give up its weapons, a day after the group’s chief doubled down on its refusal to disarm. Aoun’s comments Thursday during a speech marking Army Day in Lebanon came as pressure increases from Washington to disarm Hezbollah.