Lebanese Army Claims Hezbollah Disarmed in South Lebanon

The Lebanese Army announced Thursday that it has achieved its goal of disarming Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, claiming the area is now under exclusive state control, with limited exceptions in areas where Israeli forces remain deployed.

In a statement issued in Beirut, the army said its plan to concentrate weapons in the hands of the state had entered “an advanced stage,” after the objectives of the first phase were achieved “in an effective and tangible manner on the ground.” The announcement comes as Lebanon approaches a year-end deadline it set for removing non-state weapons from the south.

The claim carries major implications because southern Lebanon has long been Hezbollah’s primary military zone, used to store weapons and stage attacks across the border with Israel. Under the ceasefire that ended more than a year of fighting in 2024, only Lebanon’s official security forces were supposed to carry arms in the area.

According to the Lebanese army, the first phase focused on expanding its operational presence and extending control over territory south of the Litani River, with the exception of sites still under Israeli control. The army said it is still clearing unexploded munitions and dismantling tunnels, and is working to ensure that armed groups cannot rebuild their military strength “in an irreversible manner.”

Israeli officials, however, are expected to reject the Lebanese assessment. Israel believes Hezbollah is attempting to reconstitute its military infrastructure despite the ceasefire and the army’s claims of disarmament. Senior Israeli defense officials have said the IDF is preparing several military options, ranging from increased targeted pressure to more limited, time-bound operations, short of a full-scale war.

Lebanon’s statement also accused Israel of undermining the process. The army said that “the continued Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory and the ongoing daily violations of the ceasefire” are negatively affecting the completion of required missions, particularly in areas near Israeli positions. Israel, for its part, maintains that its actions are necessary to prevent Hezbollah from re-arming.

Inside Lebanon, the declaration comes ahead of a government meeting in Beirut where the army commander is expected to present a final report on the first phase of the disarmament plan. The issue has exposed deep political divisions. Parties opposed to Hezbollah are demanding a clear and rapid timetable for subsequent phases, arguing that “Lebanon does not have the privilege of time,” while Hezbollah and its allies have resisted binding deadlines.

Adding to the sensitivity, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Beirut on Thursday, as Lebanon debates how far it is willing, or able to go in dismantling the Iran-backed group’s military power.