Lebanon said Thursday it had completed the first phase of a plan to disarm Hezbollah and other militant groups in the country’s south, but Israel said progress was “far from sufficient” amid renewed concerns that the conflict could flare up again.
The Lebanese Army has announced that it now has operational control of Lebanese territory south of the Litani River, with the exception of five Israeli military positions in Lebanon. The military stopped short of declaring that it had completely disarmed Hezbollah and other groups south of Litani, acknowledging that “work in this area is still ongoing” but hinted that it was ready to move on to the next stage of the government’s plan, “Shield of the Homeland.”
“The Lebanese Armed Forces confirms that the plan to contain the weapons has reached an advanced stage, achieving the objectives of the first phase in an effective and concrete manner on the ground,” the statement said. The military confirmed its determination to carry out the government’s commitment to “assume exclusive responsibility, alongside other security agencies, for maintaining security and stability in Lebanon, particularly south of the Litani River.”
The river marks the UN-defined border in southern Lebanon, south of which Hezbollah is banned under Security Council resolutions.
The Israeli government welcomed the announcement as an “encouraging start” but said the military’s efforts were not enough. “The US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon makes clear that Hezbollah must be completely disarmed,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement, citing “Hezbollah’s efforts to rearm and rebuild its terrorist infrastructure with Iranian support.” CNN cannot verify the claims.
The Lebanese Army statement avoided explicit reference to Hezbollah, but added that operations to combat unexploded ordnance and tunnels would continue, alongside measures to “prevent the insurgent group from rebuilding its capabilities.” The group denounced that “ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon, the occupation of Lebanese sites, and repeated violations of the November 2024 ceasefire agreement are undermining efforts to expand the state’s powers and limit weapons to legitimate armed forces.”
The ceasefire agreement was signed after more than a year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which began when Hezbollah attacked Israeli-controlled territory the day after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
In December, the United States helped facilitate two rounds of talks between Israeli and Lebanese civilian officials as part of efforts to prevent further major escalation. The talks, held in Nakoura in southern Lebanon, focused on what Israel called “economic cooperation” between the two countries, while hinting that Hezbollah could carry out more widespread shelling of Israel if it does not take serious steps toward disarmament.
The November 2024 Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement commits Lebanon to allowing only national security forces to carry weapons “starting south of the Litani River” and to remove other infrastructure, military positions, and troops in the area.
“The only armed groups, weapons and related materials to be deployed in the southern Litani region will be Lebanese official military and security forces, infrastructure and weapons,” the agreement states.
The Lebanese army’s announcement is “undeniable progress. There is a lot of hard work ahead, but today’s milestone shows commitment and strengthens the role of the mechanisms established in the November 24 deal,” UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Henis Plasschaert wrote in X.
Israel has long doubted Lebanon’s ability to disarm Hezbollah and has carried out hundreds of airstrikes almost daily on the country since the ceasefire took effect, citing Hezbollah violations. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a peacekeeping force, has repeatedly warned Israel that the attack is a violation of the ceasefire and undermines progress made since the ceasefire.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday that Israel recognizes Lebanon’s decision to disarm Hezbollah, but added that “these efforts are limited.”
“The fact remains that Hezbollah’s extensive military infrastructure still exists south of the Litani River. The goal of disarming Hezbollah in southern Lebanon is far from being achieved,” the Foreign Ministry wrote to X. “Hezbollah is rearming faster than it is disarming,” it added, pointing to continued support for Iran and Thursday’s visit by Iran’s foreign minister to Beirut. The ministry also posted a video showing Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Lebanon aims to assert a monopoly on arms and is encouraging Hezbollah’s complete disarmament through negotiations. Hezbollah has largely accepted disarmament south of the Litani River, but has so far refused to give up its arsenal further north, citing Israel’s continued occupation of Lebanese territory.
On Thursday, Lebanon’s Information Minister Paul Morkos said the military would submit a new plan to the Cabinet in February to disarm Iranian-backed groups north of the Litani River, state news agency NNA reported.
