Lebanon’s Army Takes Control of Hezbollah’s South

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The Lebanese Armed Forces has announced a historic shift in its southern territory, asserting a state monopoly on weapons in what was long considered Hezbollah’s military stronghold. This move, which includes clearing out the Iranian-backed group’s infrastructure between the Litani River and the Israeli border, is framed as the first concrete step in implementing the full disarmament required by the November 2024 U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement. While the Lebanese government hails this as a major advancement, Israeli officials remain openly skeptical, insisting Hezbollah still maintains a presence and continues to rebuild its capacity in the region.

Story Highlights

Lebanese Armed Forces declares completion of first phase disarming Hezbollah south of Litani River.
Army cleared tunnels, rocket sites, and militant infrastructure in former Hezbollah stronghold.
Move implements U.S.-brokered ceasefire terms requiring full disarmament of terrorist groups.
Israel remains skeptical, continues strikes while occupying strategic hilltop positions.

Army Claims Control Over Hezbollah Territory

The Lebanese Armed Forces announced January 8, 2026, that it has completed the first phase of a comprehensive disarmament plan, asserting state control over southern Lebanon between the Litani River and the Israeli border. The army claims it now holds a monopoly on weapons in the region, marking a historic shift in an area dominated by Hezbollah for over four decades. This development represents the first concrete implementation of longstanding international demands to disarm non-state actors in Lebanon.

The military operation cleared numerous tunnels, rocket launching positions, and other terrorist infrastructure that Hezbollah had built throughout the south. Lebanese forces expanded their deployment across wide stretches between the Litani and the UN-demarcated Blue Line, working alongside UNIFIL peacekeepers. The army emphasized its plan has reached an “advanced stage” and warned against any attempts by armed groups to rebuild their military capabilities in the region.

Lebanese army says it completed its first phase of Hezbollah disarmament https://t.co/PIUkypGWnt pic.twitter.com/JnmQZWLM4r

— New York Post (@nypost) January 8, 2026

U.S.-Brokered Ceasefire Terms Drive Action

This disarmament initiative stems directly from the November 2024 U.S.-brokered ceasefire that ended the devastating Israel-Hezbollah war. The agreement explicitly requires Hezbollah’s full disarmament, particularly south of the Litani River, and tasks the Lebanese Armed Forces with deploying throughout the south while dismantling unauthorized facilities. The ceasefire emerged after Israel’s intensive airstrikes decimated much of Hezbollah’s senior leadership and heavily damaged the group’s southern infrastructure throughout September 2024.

President Joseph Aoun publicly supports the army’s announcement and has called on foreign nations not to send weapons to Lebanon except through state institutions—a clear rebuke to Iran’s decades-long arming of Hezbollah. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has made disarming non-state groups a declared priority while reassuring that any weapons Hezbollah hands over will remain under Lebanese state control rather than being destroyed or transferred to Israel.

Israeli Skepticism and Ongoing Security Concerns

Despite the Lebanese army’s claims, Israeli officials call the progress “encouraging but far from sufficient,” insisting Hezbollah maintains a presence in the area and continues attempting to rebuild its military capacity. Israeli forces continue near-daily strikes against Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon, citing ceasefire enforcement and prevention of terrorist rearmament. The Israeli Defense Forces still occupy five strategic hilltop positions along the border and maintain an artillery firing range, areas where the Lebanese army acknowledges it lacks full control.

Sources close to Hezbollah describe the state weapons monopoly push as a “disguised Israeli-American project” and claim full disarmament would be “suicide” for the organization. While Hezbollah’s overt military presence has significantly decreased in the south, intelligence sources concede the group has not fully withdrawn and maintains clandestine elements, especially in areas where Lebanese forces lack complete access. The terrorist organization retains substantial strategic capabilities including long-range precision missiles and drones, primarily stored in the Beqaa Valley and Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Watch the report: Lebanon army says phase one of disarming non-state groups in south complete