Name: Lebanons army commander to brief on Hezbollah disarmament progress
Uploaded: 2026-01-08T12:17:45.045Z
Duration: 3 min 7 s
Description: Lebanon’s army commander is set to brief the government on phase 1 of its mission to disarm Hezbollah in areas along the border with Israel.

Lebanon’s army commander is set to brief the government on phase 1 of its mission to disarm Hezbollah in areas along the border with Israel.

Beirut

Lebanon's army commander is preparing to update the government on the progress made in disarming Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, specifically south of the Litani River. The army claims to have completed the first phase of its plan, placing all weapons under state control in the designated area, except for regions still occupied by Israeli forces.

The next phase of the disarmament plan targets the area between the Litani and Awali Rivers, but Hezbollah is reportedly refusing to cooperate north of the Litani. This development raises concerns about potential internal conflict, while Israel continues to threaten expanded military action if Hezbollah is not fully disarmed.

Lebanon's army commander to brief on Hezbollah disarmament progress

to Lebanon now where the country's army commander is expected to brief the government on its progress towards disarming Hezbollah in areas along the border with Israel. The Israeli military has been carrying out nearly daily attacks despite a ceasefire being in place between the two countries since October 2024. Al Jazeera's Zaina Khoder is in Beirut. Zaina, the Lebanese army had committed to disarming Hezbollah at least at a bare minimum in southern Lebanon that is south of the Litani River by the end of last year, the end of 2025. Have they achieved that? According to the army command, they have completed the first phase of their plan to place all weapons under the state's control in that area you mentioned south of the Litani River. In a statement they said that they completed it in quote a tangible and effective way. They also said that they extended operational control over the south except in areas where Israeli troops are present. Israel continues to occupy some 10 square kilometers of territory within Lebanon along that border. So the army commander is going to present the efforts of the army, the progress to the Lebanese government which really tasked the army last year to come up with a multi-phase plan to disarm all non-state actors in Lebanon, reclaim state authority, of course in particular Hezbollah. Now it's what is important is Israel's reaction. You mentioned those daily strikes. Israel is threatening to expand those daily strikes if the disarmament does not happen, if the Lebanese government does not rein in Hezbollah. The Israeli army has repeatedly accused the Lebanese army of failing to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani saying that Hezbollah is rebuilding its military capabilities there. What's supposed to happen after that? What are the next steps? Well the second phase of the disarmament plan involves the territory between the Litani River and the Awali River. That's north of the south of the country. Whether or not the army commander is going to announce that this phase has begun or whether or not he's going to give a deadline will be key, again key to to prevent Israel from expanding its attacks in Lebanon. Now south of the Litani, yes the government and the army they faced logistical challenges, the rugged terrain, but Hezbollah did not stand in their way. Yes Hezbollah didn't cooperate and give them maps but they didn't stand in their way. But Hezbollah now is refusing to cooperate north of the Litani which means it risks the possibility of internal conflict. So phase two, will the army commander announce the start of phase two or not? Or you know will the government and the army continue to try to contain the situation to avoid political tensions and the possibility of internal conflict? Zaina Khoder reporting from the Lebanese capital. Thank you very much Zaina.

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