Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has firmly declared his determination to disarm Hezbollah and hand over all weapons to the national army. His decision comes amid growing pressure from the United States and continuous Israeli airstrikes.

BEIRUT/JERUSALEM: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on 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.

Washington is ramping up pressure on Beirut to swiftly issue a formal cabinet decision committing to disarm Hezbollah before talks can resume on a halt to Israel's military operations in Lebanon, five sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.