Aoun Calls for Hezbollah Disarmament Amid Rising Tensions
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has intensified his appeal for Hezbollah to disarm, underscoring the group's weapons as a potential pretext for Israeli aggression. The Lebanese cabinet will discuss disarmament next week, as Hezbollah remains defiant against U.S. and Israeli pressure to relinquish its arsenal.
In a charged declaration, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated his plea for Hezbollah to lay down its arms, warning that failure to do so could furnish Israel with a justifiable cause to perpetuate attacks. This recurring debate over Hezbollah's arsenal has hovered over Lebanon since the group, aligned with Iran, endured a devastating conflict with Israel last year.
Despite Washington's and Beirut's shared goal to disarm Hezbollah and consolidate weaponry under state control, the group's leader Naim Qassem has argued that such demands serve Israeli interests. The Israeli military recently targeted Lebanese infrastructures allegedly linked to Hezbollah armament activities, escalating the tumultuous situation.
As the Lebanese government prepares to deliberate on modifications to U.S. disarmament proposals, Aoun encourages seizing this pivotal moment to unify arms under state authority. However, Hezbollah, historically permitted to keep its weapons post-civil war, remains unyielding, amid discussions of scaling down its arsenal.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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