Phase 1 of disarming non-state groups in south complete: Lebanon army

Beirut [Lebanon], January 9: 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, covering the area between the Litani river and the Israeli border.
In a statement on Thursday, the army said it had established a state monopoly on arms in the south in an "effective and tangible way", without specifically mentioning Hezbollah.
The military now controls the area south of the Litani river, located about 30km from the border, "with the exception of territory and positions still occupied by Israel", the statement added.
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.
The Lebanese army, which had set a self-imposed deadline of the end of 2025 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.
A Lebanese security source told Reuters news agency that the statement signalled that no group would be able to launch attacks from southern Lebanon. Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal is scheduled to brief the government on Thursday afternoon on the progress made.
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.
Israel said on Thursday that Lebanon's efforts to disarm Hezbollah were encouraging but "far from sufficient".
Israel, which has killed more than 300 people in Lebanon since the November 2024 ceasefire, including at least 127 civilians, had previously said that Hezbollah is rebuilding its military capabilities "faster than the army is dismantling [them]".
Source: Qatar Tribune