Lebanese military moves to new phase of disarmament plan of non-state
groups like Hezbollah
[January 08, 2026]
By KAREEM CHEHAYEB
BEIRUT (AP) — The Lebanese military said Thursday it had concluded the
first phase of their plan to fully deploy across southern Lebanon and
disarm non-state groups, notably Hezbollah. Israel said it is
encouraging but “far from sufficient.”
The effort to disarm Hezbollah comes after a Washington-brokered
ceasefire ended a war between the group and Israel in 2024.
The military's statement didn't name Hezbollah or other armed groups in
particular, but it comes before President Joseph Aoun is set to meet
with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and his government to discuss the
deployment and disarmament plans. Both said disarming non-state groups
was a priority upon beginning their terms not long after the ceasefire
went into effect.
Lebanon's top officials have endorsed the military announcement.
A statement by Aoun’s office ahead of the meeting called on Israel to
stop its attacks, withdraw from areas it occupies, and release Lebanese
prisoners. He called on friendly countries not to send weapons to
Lebanon unless it's to state institutions, an apparent reference to Iran
which for decades has sent weapons and munitions to Hezbollah.
Speaker Nabih Berri, a key ally of Hezbollah who played a leading role
in ceasefire talks, issued a statement saying the people of southern
Lebanon are “thirsty for the army's presence and protection."
Israel maintains that despite Lebanon’s efforts, Hezbollah is still
attempting to rearm itself in southern Lebanon.
“The ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States between Israel
and Lebanon states clearly, Hezbollah must be fully disarmed," a
statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office read.
“This is imperative for Israel’s security and Lebanon’s future.”
Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the Lebanese military’s
announcement.
The government had set a deadline of the end of 2025 to clear the area
south of the Litani River of non-state weapons. The Lebanese military
has been clearing tunnels, rocket-launching positions, and other
structures since its disarmament proposal was approved by the government
and went into effect in September.
“The army confirms that its plan to restrict weapons has entered an
advanced stage, after achieving the goals of the first phase effectively
and tangibly on the ground,” the military statement read.
Israel still strikes Lebanon near daily and occupies five strategic
hilltop points along the border, the only areas south of the Litani
where the military said it has yet to control.
“Work in the sector is ongoing until the unexploded ordnance and tunnels
are cleared ... with the aim of preventing armed groups from
irreversibly rebuilding their capabilities," the statement read.
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Lebanese army soldiers walk through a tunnel dug into a
mountain that was used by Hezbollah militants as a clinic and
storage facility near the Lebanese-Israeli border in the Zibqin
Valley, southern Lebanon, Nov. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein,
File)
Officials have said the next stage of the disarmament plan is in
segments of southern Lebanon between the Litani and the Awali River,
which include Lebanon’s port city of Sidon, but they have not set a
timeline for that phase.
Regular meetings have taken place between the Lebanese and the
Israelis alongside the United States, France, and the U.N.
peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, to monitor
developments after the ceasefire.
Lebanon’s cash-strapped military has since been gradually dispersing
across wide areas of southern Lebanon between the Litani River and
the U.N.-demarcated “Blue Line” that separates the tiny country from
Israel. The military has also been slowly confiscating weapons from
armed Palestinian factions in refugee camps.
Israel accuses Hezbollah of trying to rebuild its battered military
capacity and has said that the Lebanese military’s efforts are not
sufficient, raising fears of a new escalation. Lebanon, meanwhile,
said Israel's strikes and control of the hilltops were an obstacle
to the efforts.
Lebanon also hopes that disarming Hezbollah and other non-state
groups will help to bring in money needed for reconstruction after
the 2024 war.
Hezbollah says it has been cooperative with the army in the south
but will not discuss disarming elsewhere before Israel stops its
strikes and withdraws from Lebanese territory.
The latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict began the day after the Oct. 7,
2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel triggered the war in Gaza. The
militant group Hezbollah, largely based in southern Lebanon, began
firing rockets into Israel in support of Hamas and the Palestinians.
Israel responded with airstrikes and shelling. The low-level
conflict escalated into full-scale war in September 2024. Israeli
strikes killed much of Hezbollah's senior leadership and left the
group severely weakened.
Hezbollah still has political clout, holding a large number of seats
in parliament representing the Shiite Muslim community and two
cabinet ministers.
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