The Jerusalem Post reports: “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.

Aoun’s statement follows Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem’s speech on Wednesday evening, where he said the Iran-aligned group’s disarmament served only Israel.

‘Those who call for submitting arms practically demand submitting them to Israel… We will not submit to Israel,’ Qassem said in a televised address…”