Lebanese military says it has completed first phase of disarmament plan

The Lebanese military said on Thursday that it had completed the first phase of a plan to demilitarize armed groups under the deal that ended Israel’s war with Hezbollah, as fears grew that Israel could be preparing a new offensive in Lebanon. The military’s statement did not mention Hezbollah by name, though the cease-fire that ended the 2024 war — brokered by the United States — has placed intense pressure on the Lebanese government to disarm the Iranian-backed organization.

Israel and U.S. officials have warned that Israel could begin a large-scale campaign against Hezbollah if more progress on disarmament is not made, and the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the Lebanese effort an “encouraging beginning, but they are far from sufficient,” repeating Israeli claims that Hezbollah was seeking to rearm.

The announcement came ahead of a cabinet meeting where President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam were expected to review disarmament plans that also cover smaller Palestinian armed factions. The Lebanese government faces a dilemma: it needs to unlock billions in foreign aid contingent on disarming Hezbollah, but fears that unilateral moves could provoke civil unrest; the military noted Hezbollah was weakened by the war but retains broad support in Lebanon’s Shiite community.

Key Topics

World, Hezbollah, Lebanese Military, Israel, Litani River, Sidon