BEIRUT (Reuters) -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.

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.