The Lebanese army has announced the completion of the first phase of its plan to bring all non-state weaponry in the south of the country under its control.
In a statement, the army said that it had established a state monopoly on arms in the south, covering the area between the Litani river and the Israeli border in an “effective and tangible way,” without specifically mentioning Hezbollah.
According to the statement, the military now controls the area south of the Litani river, located about 30km (19 miles) from the border, “with the exception of territory and positions still occupied by Israel.”
The Lebanese army, which had set a self-imposed deadline to complete the first part of its multi-phase plan to disarm all non-state groups, caveated that more work was needed to clear unexploded ordnance and tunnels in the area.
The government had set a deadline of the end of 2025 to clear the area south of the Litani River of non-state weapons. The Lebanese military has been clearing tunnels, rocket-launching positions, and other structures since its disarmament proposal was approved by the government and went into effect in September.
“The army confirms that its plan to restrict weapons has entered an advanced stage, after achieving the goals of the first phase effectively and tangibly on the ground.
“Work in the sector is ongoing until the unexploded ordnance and tunnels are cleared … with the aim of preventing armed groups from irreversibly rebuilding their capabilities.”
Lebanese military statement
The military added that it will soon announce the next stages of the plan. Officials have said that the next stage of the disarmament plan is in segments of southern Lebanon between the Litani and the Awali River, which include Lebanon’s port city of Sidon, but they have not set a timeline for that phase.
Lebanese President To Meet Prime Minister
The military’s statement comes before President Joseph Aoun is set to meet with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and his government to further discuss the deployment and disarmament plans.
Both said that disarming non-state groups was a priority upon beginning their terms not long after the ceasefire went into effect.
A statement by Aoun’s office ahead of the meeting said that the Lebanese President strongly backs the army’s statement, calling on Israel to stop its attacks, withdraw from areas it occupies, and release Lebanese prisoners.
He called on friendly countries not to send weapons to Lebanon unless it’s to state institutions, an apparent reference to Iran which for decades has sent weapons and munitions to Hezbollah.
Lebanon’s cabinet is expected to discuss moving to phase two of the plan, which would entail disarming non-state armed groups from a 40km (25 miles) stretch running north of the Litani to the Awali river.
The announcement comes amid growing pressure from the United States and Israel for Beirut to disarm Hezbollah, while Israel escalates strikes across Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreed in 2024.
Regular meetings have taken place between the Lebanese and the Israelis alongside the United States, France, and the UN peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, to monitor developments after the ceasefire.
Israel accuses Hezbollah of trying to rebuild its battered military capacity and has said that the Lebanese military’s efforts are not sufficient, raising fears of a new escalation. Lebanon, meanwhile, said Israel’s strikes and control of the hilltops were an obstacle to the efforts.
Lebanon also hopes that disarming Hezbollah and other non-state groups will help to bring in money needed for reconstruction after the 2024 war.
Hezbollah says that it has been cooperative with the army in the south but will not discuss disarming elsewhere before Israel stops its strikes and withdraws from Lebanese territory.
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