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, as Washington increases pressure on Hezbollah to give up its arms.
He added that the country would seek $1 billion annually for 10 years to support the army and security forces in Lebanon.
The president called for an end to "death, destruction, suicides and unnecessary wars on Lebanese soil," and stressed the importance of seizing the political opportunity to enshrine the state's monopoly on weapons.
He accused Israel of preventing the return of residents to villages in the country's south that were destroyed in the latest conflict and of blocking reconstruction efforts in the south. According to Aoun, Lebanon conveyed a message to the United States demanding an end to Israeli violations by air, sea and land, including targeted killings.
In addition, the president revealed that the United States had presented a draft proposal regarding the situation in southern Lebanon, but Lebanon demanded what he described as substantial amendments.
