The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) announced on Thursday that they have successfully concluded the initial phase of a high-stakes mission to reclaim military control over the country’s volatile south.
In a statement that marks a significant pivot in domestic security, the military declared it has established an “effective and tangible” state monopoly on weaponry in the region between the Litani River and the Israeli border. While the communique steered clear of naming Hezbollah directly, the implication of the “non-state groups” terminology was clear to observers monitoring the implementation of the 2024 ceasefire.
The military now asserts full authority over the southern sector, roughly 30km (19 miles) deep from the Blue Line, though it noted that pockets of territory remain under Israeli occupation. This progress report comes just days after the army’s self-imposed year-end deadline, signaling a rare moment of institutional momentum in a country often paralyzed by sectarian gridlock.
However, the “monopoly” remains a work in progress. Military officials cautioned that while the visible presence of non-state fighters has been curtailed, teams are still grappling with a vast network of underground tunnels and unexploded ordnance left behind by decades of conflict. A security source told Reuters that the move is intended to ensure no group can launch unauthorized strikes from southern soil.
The diplomatic reaction from across the border was characteristically guarded. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the progress “encouraging” but “far from sufficient.” Israel has repeatedly accused Hezbollah of attempting to rebuild its infrastructure with Iranian backing, an allegation the UN peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) says it has yet to find evidence for.
The tension on the ground remains palpable. Since the ceasefire was signed in late 2024, UNIFIL has documented over 10,000 violations by Israel, primarily through unauthorized airspace incursions. Meanwhile, Israel continues to launch periodic strikes, claiming they are necessary to preempt Hezbollah’s rearmament—actions that Beirut argues jeopardize the entire disarmament process.
The political focus now shifts to the next hurdle. Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal is set to brief the cabinet on “Phase Two,” which would expand the disarmament zone 40km further north, from the Litani to the Awali River.
Moving north of the Litani represents a far more complex challenge. Reports from the ground suggest that while Hezbollah did not obstruct the army’s movements in the initial southern zone, the group is reportedly less cooperative regarding the next phase. The success of this transition will depend heavily on the five-nation monitoring committee, chaired by the United States and France, as they attempt to balance Lebanon’s sovereignty with Israel’s security demands.
