President Joseph Aoun said the circumstances that once justified the presence of weapons outside State authority no longer exist, arguing that their continued existence has become a burden both on Hezbollah’s own community and on Lebanon as a whole.

In a wide-ranging interview broadcast Sunday evening on state-run Télé-Liban to mark the first anniversary of his election, Aoun struck his firmest tone yet toward Hezbollah, urging the group to act “rationally” and place the authority of the State above the power of arms. Addressing the party directly, he said the time had come to prioritize logic over weapons, noting that Hezbollah is represented in both government and parliament and must therefore cooperate fully with State institutions.

Aoun said Lebanon had managed to avert collapse and restore a degree of stability during his first year in office, adding that the risk of war had declined significantly following the ceasefire reached in November 2024 between Israel and Hezbollah.

The threat of a large-scale Israeli strike or a ground invasion has receded considerably, he said, though he cautioned that it has not disappeared entirely, stressing that he cannot predict the intentions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. As evidence of improved stability, Aoun pointed to the holiday season, during which large numbers of people traveled to Lebanon and events unfolded without incident.

He said political authorities are closely monitoring developments through ongoing contacts, with the aim of permanently distancing Lebanon from the risk of war.

Reflecting on his inaugural address to parliament, Aoun said it was shaped by his military background and designed to achieve what once seemed impossible. He stressed that the speech was never meant to remain symbolic, citing the number of decrees issued and cabinet sessions held over the past year as evidence that several commitments had already been implemented and had helped preserve stability.

While acknowledging that not all pledges have been fulfilled, Aoun said progress has been made toward restoring the State’s monopoly on weapons. He emphasized that the pace of implementation depends on the capabilities of the Lebanese army, adding that any assistance provided to the military would help it carry out its mission.

The decision to place all arms under State authority, he said, was taken domestically and was not imposed from abroad. He added that all partners must cooperate with the State, stressing that those who do so would be protected by it.

Responding to criticism from Hezbollah and its allies, who argue that the group’s weapons are necessary to defend Lebanon, Aoun said the circumstances that once justified those arms—referring to Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon, which ended in 2000—no longer apply. With the Lebanese army now deployed, he said, the continued presence of weapons has become a burden both on Hezbollah’s base and on the country as a whole.

He said there has been a degree of cooperation with Hezbollah and that it is natural for the State to continue consolidating its monopoly on arms while taking into account the army’s capacities. The process, he added, is not yet complete, even south of the Litani River.

North of the Litani, Aoun said progress depends on the army’s resources. He noted that the military is reinforcing its presence in the area to prevent any armed movement and has requested additional assistance to complete its mission. While the decision has been taken, he said, its implementation remains tied to the army’s capabilities and the difficult conditions under which it operates.

Asked about a possible Israeli withdrawal from positions still occupied in southern Lebanon, Aoun said normalization with Israel is not a condition for withdrawal. He said Lebanon’s current efforts fall within the framework of the truce agreement, including security arrangements, withdrawal, the cessation of attacks, the return of prisoners and the resolution of border disputes.

These steps, he said, are essential on the path toward peace, but he rejected any notion that Lebanon must make peace in exchange for Israeli withdrawal, despite repeated calls in recent months from Israel and its U.S. ally for normalization.

On Lebanese detainees held by Israel, Aoun said International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger had confirmed that Israel refuses to allow Red Cross visits or provide information on the prisoners’ whereabouts or health. He said he continues to demand their release in all his domestic and international engagements.

Turning to Palestinian refugee camps, Aoun said some camps are considered legitimate, while others emerged during the last war. He said the president of the Palestinian Authority visited Lebanon in 2025 and concluded that weapons in the camps had also become a burden on Palestinians themselves.

The camps have witnessed repeated clashes and turned into hubs for drugs and terrorism, he said, adding that cooperation with the Palestinian Authority is ongoing and has yielded positive responses.

On other domestic issues, Aoun said there was no evidence that billions of dollars had been smuggled through Beirut’s airport and confirmed that a mechanism for implementing reconstruction in areas destroyed by Israeli strikes would be reviewed next week.

On foreign policy, Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to positive neutrality, saying the country is exhausted by axis-based politics and has decided not to become entangled in them.

He stressed his confidence in diplomacy, saying Lebanon has experienced war and that the Lebanese people can no longer bear it. Pursuing diplomacy, he said, offers a chance to move away from the option of war; a sovereign choice that was not imposed on Lebanon and one the country intends to see through.