The Lebanese army says it is taking over security in the country’s south, which for decades has been dominated by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement, amid fears Israel could escalate its military offensive against the group.
Lebanon has been under intense international pressure, especially from the US, to disarm Hezbollah, a powerful militia and political party, since a cease-fire agreement in November 2024 ended a devastating year-long war between Israel and Hezbollah.
The army has set a one-year deadline to finish clearing the area south of the Litani river, about 30km (20 miles) from the Israeli border, of non-state weapons in the first phase of the government-backed plan.
The army said its objective was achieved in an “effective and tangible manner” but there was more work to be done to clear unexploded ordnance and tunnels.
Responding to the statement of the Lebanese army, the office of the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu said that the efforts to completely disarm Hezbollah “is an encouraging beginning, but it is far from enough, as proved by Hezbollah’s efforts to arm and rebuild the infrastructure of terrorism with the support of Iran”.
In recent months, the Lebanese army has dismantled infrastructure in areas previously controlled by Hezbollah in the south without facing resistance from the group, which says it is complying with the ceasefire agreement and has removed its fighters from areas, where Palestinian factions including Hamas also operate.
But US and Israeli officials have expressed disappointment at the pace of the army’s efforts.
Israel has accused Hezbollah – which is considered a terrorist organization by countries including the US and the UK – of trying to regain military capabilities, including in the south. In recent days, Israeli media reported that Netanyahu was given the green light by US President Donald Trump to intensify its military campaign against Hezbollah.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel carries out almost daily attacks on targets it says are linked to Hezbollah and continues to occupy at least five positions in southern Lebanon.
The Lebanese government rejected Israel’s claims, and said Israel’s actions were a violation of the ceasefire agreement and an obstacle to the army’s efforts.
Israel has not made the evidence it says it has of Hezbollah’s activities public, and the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, known as Unifil, says it has seen no sign the group is rebuilding infrastructure in areas where it operates.
Lebanese officials say the next phase of the army’s plan will focus on the area between the Litani and Awali rivers, which includes the port city of Sidon. There is no timeline for that, and the cash-strapped Lebanese army also complains of insufficient funding and equipment.
Meanwhile, it is unclear whether Hezbollah will resist the measures in other areas as it has said it will not disarm north of Litani. The group also has a strong presence in the eastern Bekaa valley and the southern suburbs of Beirut, known as Dahieh.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has rejected the use of force against the group, saying it would exacerbate sectarian divisions and lead to violence.
Hezbollah – which is also a political party with representation in parliament and the government, and a social movement that runs hospitals and schools – still enjoys significant support among Lebanon’s Shia community.
Opponents, however, see this as a rare opportunity to disarm the group, following its defeats in the war. Hezbollah has, so far, rejected calls from the authorities to discuss the future of its weapons.
In southern Lebanon, thousands of residents remain displaced and communities destroyed, as Lebanon’s international partners condition funds for reconstruction on measures that include action against Hezbollah.