Lebanese army claims south disarmed; Netanyahu responds

Israeli assessments indicate Hezbollah continues to maintain military infrastructure and observation posts near the border, with armed terrorists still present in the area.

By World Israel News Staff

The Lebanese Armed Forces announced Thursday that it has “effectively and tangibly” completed the disarmament of southern Lebanon, with the exception of areas that remain under IDF control.

The announcement comes ahead of key meetings in Beirut, where President Joseph Aoun is set to meet with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and his government to further discuss deployment and disarmament plans in southern Lebanon.

The statement was issued amid growing international pressure on Beirut to dismantle Hezbollah’s military capabilities in order to prevent a renewed conflict with Israel.

In its announcement, the Lebanese army said it had carried out operations to locate and remove underground tunnels and unexploded ordnance, and asserted that all non-state armed elements had been cleared from areas south of the Litani River. “The only legitimate weapons in the south are those held by Lebanese security forces,” the army said.

Israel swiftly pushed back on the claim, pointing to the explicit terms of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon.

In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said the agreement “clearly stipulates the complete disarmament of Hezbollah.”

“This is essential for Israel’s security and for Lebanon’s future,” the statement said.

The Prime Minister’s Office added that while efforts by the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Armed Forces represent “an encouraging beginning,” they are “far from sufficient.”

The statement cited Hezbollah’s continued efforts “to rearm and rebuild its terror infrastructure with Iranian support” as evidence that the agreement’s core requirements have not been met.

Israeli assessments indicate that Hezbollah continues to maintain military infrastructure and observation posts near the border, with armed operatives still present in southern Lebanon, including members of Hamas.

In Israel’s view, the Lebanese army’s statement appears primarily aimed at influencing the diplomatic environment ahead of the upcoming Beirut discussions, rather than reflecting a clearly verifiable change on the ground.

The developments come against the backdrop of political commitments made by Beirut. In September, the Lebanese government approved a plan calling for Hezbollah’s disarmament by the end of 2025.

That deadline has now passed, with Lebanese authorities asserting that the objective has been achieved, while Israel maintains that Hezbollah remains active in southern Lebanon.

Earlier this week, Israel’s Walla news outlet reported that a senior Israeli security source voiced concern not only over Hezbollah’s failure to disarm but over what the official described as increasing coordination between Hezbollah and the Lebanese Armed Forces. According to the report, Israeli intelligence on the matter has been shared with U.S. officials.

“We will not allow an accumulation of threats in Lebanon,” the source warned, according to Walla. “If necessary, we will even strike in Dahiyeh. We will not hesitate.”

At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told ministers that Israel has received a green light from U.S. President Donald Trump to carry out military action in Lebanon if necessary, underscoring Israel’s position that it will judge the situation based on developments on the ground rather than formal declarations.