Beirut – A knowledgeable source stated to ‘Sputnik’ on Monday that the visit of the American delegation on Sunday to the area south of the Litani River reaffirmed the importance of the plan developed by the army and renewed support and assistance in implementing that plan. It aimed to observe the practical and serious security measures taken by the Lebanese army to restrict Hezbollah’s weapons, which the delegation described as positive.
The source emphasized that the American side confirmed that it is not permissible to introduce any weapons south of the Litani, where the dismantling of the military system, including centers, tunnels, and facilities belonging to Hezbollah, is underway. The source revealed that the plan presented by Army Commander Rudolf Hekal to the Cabinet is based on avoiding clashes with the resistance and its environment and on Israel’s commitment to its obligations and the support of sponsoring nations in providing necessary assistance to the army.
The army leadership is fully aware that each stage has its circumstances, and disarmament is subject to political consensus rather than force. The security source noted that the plan includes five phases in areas where Hezbollah’s military capabilities exist, without a timeline specifying the end and start of each phase. The first phase focuses on completing the dismantling of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure south of the Litani, which has reached 85% as determined by President Joseph Aoun in a previous interview.
The Central Command leader has reviewed the measures taken south of the Litani and the army’s seriousness in executing them. The Lebanese security source indicated that the army has set its military plan and the constraints preventing its implementation and needs continuous support in terms of personnel and equipment, linking the plan’s completion to the enemy’s commitment to applying Resolution 1701, withdrawing behind borders from occupied territories, releasing prisoners, and refraining from attacking Lebanese territories.
‘Sputnik’ learned that safe and usable weapons are confiscated and stored in army depots, while unsafe ammunition of unknown origin, which poses a storage risk, is detonated following the safety and security rules adopted by the Lebanese army. It is noted that the committee overseeing the cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel held a meeting on Sunday in Ras Naqoura, Southern Lebanon, to discuss the situation in Southern Lebanon, attended by US envoy Morgan Ortagus and US Army Central Command leader Brad Cooper.
Following the meeting, the US delegation, accompanied by Lebanese army officers, flew over Naqoura towards Bint Jbeil and down to the Litani River course in two military helicopters. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced on August 5, after a government session that lasted more than five hours, that he tasked the Lebanese army with developing an implementation plan to confine weapons to state control, including disarming Hezbollah, to complete the file by the end of the year.
There are repeated calls from regional and Western capitals, along with Lebanese political forces, to restrict weapons to the state, referring to Hezbollah’s weapons, while the party asserts that its arms are designated to resist Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon. A ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel took effect on November 27, 2024, over a year after Hezbollah opened what it called a ‘support front for Gaza’ on October 8, 2023.
The Israeli army was supposed to complete its withdrawal from occupied areas in the south by January of the previous year, but Israel did not comply with the deadline, maintaining its military presence in five strategic points in Southern Lebanon, justifying it as ensuring the protection of northern settlements. Despite the agreement, the Israeli army occasionally launches strikes in Lebanon, claiming they are to eliminate ‘Hezbollah’ threats.
