Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has announced that the first stage of Hezbollah’s disarmament plan in the south of the Litani River is “only days away from completion,” signalling progress towards meeting the year-end deadline set under a US-backed ceasefire agreement with Israel.
The deal, reached in November 2024, ended more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. A key condition requires the disarmament of the Iran-aligned group, beginning in areas south of the Litani River, which borders Israel.
Lebanese authorities, led by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Salam, tasked the Lebanese army in August with implementing a strategy to consolidate state control over weapons by the end of 2025.
In a statement released on Saturday, Salam confirmed that the government is prepared to move into the second phase of the plan, which involves confiscating arms north of the river.
“The state is ready to move on to the second phase, namely [confiscating weapons] north of the Litani River, based on the plan prepared by the Lebanese army pursuant to a mandate from the government,” he said.
The announcement followed a meeting between Salam and Simon Karam, Lebanon’s chief civilian negotiator on the committee overseeing the truce.
The committee’s 15th session, held in Naqoura on Friday, focused on facilitating the return of displaced residents and addressing civilian concerns to prevent renewed conflict.
The US Embassy in Beirut noted that discussions also touched on economic reconstruction and humanitarian support for communities affected by the 2023–24 war.
Despite progress, tensions remain high. Israeli warplanes have continued to strike parts of Lebanon, particularly in the south, with occasional raids reaching Beirut.
Israel has expressed scepticism about the Lebanese army’s ability to enforce disarmament, warning it will act “as necessary” if Hezbollah retains its arsenal.
Hezbollah, meanwhile, has resisted pressure from domestic rivals and international actors, arguing that disarmament would leave Lebanon vulnerable while Israeli air strikes persist.
The group maintains that its weapons are essential for national defence, a position that has long divided Lebanese politics along sectarian lines.
The disarmament process is seen as a crucial test of Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability. Analysts say that completing the first phase south of the Litani River could bolster confidence in the ceasefire, but failure to meet the deadline risks reigniting conflict.
With the year-end fast approaching, Lebanon’s leadership faces mounting pressure to demonstrate tangible progress in curbing Hezbollah’s military power.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Reuters, The National, Arab News
