Aoun: Israel's pullout enables Lebanon to extend its authority

The Israeli army's withdrawal from south Lebanon would enable the Lebanese state to "extend its authority, end armed appearances and eliminate any justification for the persistence of weapons other than those of legitimate authorities and their armed forces," President Joseph Aoun said on Tuesday.

Aoun also stressed the importance of "adopting a political, military, economic and social approach for the issue of disarming Hezbollah, with the aim of preserving political, security and social stability in the country."