Lebanese army said to enter Hezbollah bases north of Litani River for first time
Military has almost completed dismantling terror group’s infrastructure south of the river, Lebanese Al Jadeed network reports, amid US pressure
The Lebanese army has for the first time entered Hezbollah bases north of the Litani River and has nearly completed dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure in the south of the country, the Lebanese Al Jadeed network reported on Thursday.
The report noted that the Iran-backed terror group had never before surrendered bases to the Lebanese army north of the river.
A November 2023 ceasefire agreement, reached after more than a year of skirmishes and several months of open war between Israel and the terror group, required Hezbollah to immediately vacate areas south of the Litani, which flows into the Mediterranean some 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the Israeli border.
The agreement called on the Lebanese military to ultimately dismantle all military infrastructure and unauthorized arms on both sides of the Litani, but did not provide a timetable concerning areas to the river’s north.
According to the Al Jadeed report, the Lebanese government will reach an agreement with Hezbollah regarding a phased relinquishing of the weapons it possesses.
The United States has been pressing the Lebanese government to ensure Hezbollah’s full disarmament, with White House envoy Morgan Ortagus reportedly emphasizing an expectation that the Lebanese do more during her trip to Beirut last weekend.
On Thursday, Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said the Iran-aligned terror group was ready to enter talks with the Lebanese government on a national defense strategy, with a focus on ensuring the removal of Israeli troops from Lebanon’s territory.
A senior Hezbollah official had told Reuters on Wednesday that the terror group was prepared to engage in talks with Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun about its weapons if Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon and halted its military strikes.
Under the November 27 Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement, Israel is entitled to strike what it deems imminent threats and ceasefire violations by the terror group and has done so repeatedly.
In February, the IDF withdrew from all but five strategic posts near the border in south Lebanon, which Aoun has called on it to vacate. Israel says those five strategic points are necessary to maintain security along the border.
Hezbollah began attacking across the border on October 8, 2023, the day after allied Palestinian terror group Hamas led a massive invasion of southern Israel in which it killed some 1,200 and took 251 hostages.
Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks forced the evacuation of 60,000 northern residents, killed dozens of people, and caused significant damage. Israel hit back with airstrikes, and by September, the conflict escalated into open war, during which Israel decimated Hezbollah’s leadership and stockpiles.
The war ended in a late November ceasefire, which has largely held despite mutual accusations of violations.
Agencies contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.