Lebanon says first phase of plan to disarm Hezbollah completed, but Netanyahu warns progress far from sufficient

Al Mayadeen English

Loyalty To Resistance Bloc Condemns Coercion  Affirms Sovere

The Times of Israel

Lebanon Says Hezbollah Disarmed In South Israel Efforts Encouraging But Insufficient

Ground News

Lebanese military moves to new phase of disarmament plan of non-state groups like Hezbollah

BBC News

Lebanon: Army says has taken over security in Hezbollah-dominated south

Daily Sabah

Lebanon completes 1st phase of disarming Hezbollah down south

The Associated Press

WSLS 10

Lebanese military moves to new phase of disarming non-state groups like Hezbollah

The Jerusalem Post

Israel: Lebanese efforts to disarm Hezbollah insufficient

Al Jazeera

Lebanon army says phase one of disarming non-state groups in south complete

Reuters

Lebanese Army Says It Has Achieved Goal State Monopoly Arms South Effective 2026 01 08

ABC News

PressTV

One killed, another injured in Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon amid ceasefire violations

New York Post

Lebanese army says it completed its first phase of Hezbollah disarmament

Benjamin Netanyahu

Hassan Nasrallah

Najib Mikati

Yair Lapid

Mark Regev

Antony Blinken

Lloyd Austin

Yoav Gallant

Israel Katz

Benny Gantz

Amal Saad

Jonathan Conricus

Amos Harel

Herzi Halevi

Steven A. Cook

CSIS

Hilal Khashan

Matthew Miller

National Security Council

Bilal Saab

Bashir Saade

Mona Yacoubian

Maha Yahya

Aaron David Miller

Tal Beeri

Oren Marmorstein

Danny Citrinowicz

Mairav Zonszein

Nicholas Blanford

Imad Salamey

Omar Baddar

Mojtaba Amani

Randa Slim

Masoud Pezeshkian

Amos Hochstein

Mohammad Afif

Amir Avivi

Naim Qassem

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf

Jeffrey Feltman

Salman Zarka

Avraham Levine

Metaculus

"It is in no ones interest — not Israel's, not the region's, not the world's — for this conflict to spread beyond Gaza."

Hezbollah has signalled it "is willing to go all the way" toward a final border settlement if there's a Gaza cease-fire.

"I am doing my duty to prevent Lebanon from entering the war."

"We were not interested in a conflict. But if Hezbollah does start one, it will finish on Israel's terms."

"I don't know when the war in the north [will happen]. I can tell you that the likelihood of it happening in the coming months is much higher than it was in the past."

"The situation on Israel's northern border demands change... [t]he stopwatch for a diplomatic solution is running out."

"We are shifting from being passive to actively pursuing Hezbollah."

"Netanyahu clearly wants war [with Hezbollah]."

"It is likely that there is going to be a war between Hezbollah and Israel within the next six to eight months."

Will There Be an Israel-Hezbollah War?

Lebanon's army announced Thursday that it has achieved operational control south of the Litani River, excluding areas still occupied by Israeli forces, marking completion of the first phase of its plan to consolidate weapons under state authority.

Lebanon's army announced Thursday that it has achieved operational control south of the Litani River, excluding areas still occupied by Israeli forces, marking completion of the first phase of its plan to consolidate weapons under state authority.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that Lebanon's disarmament efforts are an encouraging beginning but far from sufficient, citing what it described as evidence of Hezbollah's attempts to rearm with Iranian support.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that Lebanon's disarmament efforts are an encouraging beginning but far from sufficient, citing what it described as evidence of Hezbollah's attempts to rearm with Iranian support.

The ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States in November 2024 ended more than a year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which began when Hezbollah struck Israeli-controlled territory following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel.

The ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States in November 2024 ended more than a year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which began when Hezbollah struck Israeli-controlled territory following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel.

Israel has conducted near-daily airstrikes in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect, with the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL documenting over 10,000 ceasefire violations by Israel, including 7,500 in Lebanese airspace and 2,500 on the ground.

Israel has conducted near-daily airstrikes in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect, with the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL documenting over 10,000 ceasefire violations by Israel, including 7,500 in Lebanese airspace and 2,500 on the ground.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has rejected using force against Hezbollah, stating this could exacerbate sectarian divisions, while the group maintains it will not disarm north of the Litani River until Israel withdraws from Lebanese territory.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has rejected using force against Hezbollah, stating this could exacerbate sectarian divisions, while the group maintains it will not disarm north of the Litani River until Israel withdraws from Lebanese territory.

Lebanon's cabinet announced that the army will present a plan in February for disarming groups north of the Litani River, with the next phase focusing on territory between the Litani and Awali rivers, though no timeline has been established.

Lebanon's cabinet announced that the army will present a plan in February for disarming groups north of the Litani River, with the next phase focusing on territory between the Litani and Awali rivers, though no timeline has been established.

Lebanon Army Takes Control South of Litani River

LebaneseLebanon GovernmentArmy SaysTakes HezbollahControl DisarmedSouth inof theLitani SouthRiver

The Controversies

Miller

Saad

Mikati

Regev

Halevi

Gantz

Gallant

Khashan

Cook

Go Deeper

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters