Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has reaffirmed his government’s intention to assert full state authority over its territory, including a controversial plan to disarm Hezbollah. The announcement came during a speech marking Army Day on Thursday, signaling a pivotal moment for the country’s internal stability and its volatile relationship with Israel.

BEIRUT - Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun called on Hezbollah and other political parties on Thursday to hand over their weapons to the army, a move the powerful militant group is resisting as Washington ramps up pressures for it to remove its arsenal.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Thursday that he was determined to disarm Hezbollah, a step it has come under heavy US pressure to take, despite the group's protests that doing so would serve Israeli goals.