The Media Line: Lebanese Army Declares South Clear of ‘Non-State Weaponry,’ Israel Expected To Push Back

Lebanese Army Declares South Clear of ‘Non-State Weaponry,’ Israel Expected To Push Back

By The Media Line Staff  

The Lebanese army declared Thursday that it has disarmed the southern area of the country in “an effective and tangible way” but acknowledged that there remain tunnels and unexploded ordnance.  

Clearing the southern region of “non-state weaponry” was a requirement of the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel that took effect in November 2024. Since then, Israel has carried out strikes in response to what it says are insufficient efforts to contain and disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah and other terror groups.  

Not mentioning Hezbollah by name, Lebanon’s army stated that it has gained control of the entire south except for areas that are still under control of Israel Defense Forces,(IDF) and has met a deadline to remove “non-state weaponry” by the end of the year.  

Israel is expected to reject the Lebanese army’s statement that Hezbollah no longer has weapons, Ynet reports, and is likely to question that the area south of the Litani river is now demilitarized in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.  

Defense officials have indicated the possibility of a time-limited IDF operation against Hezbollah, falling short of a full war but stepping up the smaller strikes that Israel has carried out in response to its claims that Hezbollah is rearming.  

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told cabinet ministers that US President Donald Trump gave Israel the approval for striking Lebanon, KAN news reported. During a meeting between the two leaders in late December, President Trump reportedly agreed with the premier about the situation in Lebanon and said, “If the Lebanese army doesn’t succeed in disarming them, and Israel believes an action is the necessary thing to do [then the US backs Israel].”