BEIRUT, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Sunday vowed to proceed with the disarmament of armed groups across the country, including in areas north of the Litani River, stressing that the process will continue despite ongoing Israeli attacks.

In an interview with state-owned broadcaster Tele Liban, Aoun said the Lebanese army has achieved what he called "operational control" south of the Litani River, enabling it to prevent and respond to any military activity in the area. While disarmament efforts are not complete and will extend beyond the Litani, he noted the pace will depend on the army's operational capacity and available resources.

Aoun rejected claims that exclusive state control over weapons is an external demand, stressing it is a purely internal Lebanese requirement rooted in the 1989 Taif Agreement, which formally ended the civil war, and is essential to state-building. He added that the role for which non-state weapons were created no longer exists, as the Lebanese army is now responsible for protecting the country and its citizens.

Regarding peace with Israel, Aoun expressed openness but insisted it must be based on justice and existing frameworks. He pointed to the 1949 Armistice Agreement with Israel, UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and mechanisms that could lead to Israeli withdrawal, a halt to attacks, the resolution of border disputes, and the release of detainees.

Under the 2024 ceasefire agreement with Israel, reached after a year-long conflict between Hezbollah and Israel triggered by the Gaza war, the Lebanese army is tasked with dismantling Hezbollah's infrastructure and seizing unauthorized weapons. In late 2025, the Lebanese government approved a five-phase roadmap aimed at establishing a state monopoly on arms.

Hezbollah leaders, including the group's secretary general, Naim Qassem, have repeatedly said they will not fully disarm as long as Israel occupies any Lebanese land, citing five strategic hilltop positions still held by Israeli forces. They argue their weapons remain a necessary deterrent. ■