Hezbollah's infrastructure close to Israel was allegedly dismantled by approximately 90% according to a security official from the Lebanese army.
Lebanese Army Cracks Down on Hezbollah Infrastructure, Sources Say
In a major move since the November truce, the Lebanese army has allegedly dismantled over 90% of Hezbollah's military infrastructure south of the Litani River, according to a confidential security source.
"We've dug up and shut down over 90% of the infrastructure in the area south of the Litani," the source revealed to AFP. They added that soldiers have also beefed up their presence at border crossings to halt the transfer of weapons from the north of the river to the south.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun echoed similar sentiments in an interview with Sky News Arabia, stating that the army now commands over 85% of the country's south. Aoun, currently in the United Arab Emirates, emphasized that the Lebanese army is executing its role without any issues or resistance.
The November ceasefire agreement, resulting from over a year of confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel, was based on a UN Security Council resolution mandating that only Lebanese troops and United Nations peacekeepers should operate in south Lebanon. As per the deal, Hezbollah was expected to relocate its fighters north of Lebanon’s Litani River, roughly 30 kilometers from the Israeli border, and dismantle any remaining military installations south of it.
While Hezbollah's cooperation with the army remains unconfirmed, the Lebanese army has claimed that much of the terrorist group's robust underground infrastructure in the south has been filled and closed. The single obstacle hindering the complete deployment of soldiers across the border region is Israel's continued occupation of five strategic border positions, as per the Jerusalem Post.
When asked about Hezbollah's withdrawal, the security source stated, "They bailed out and said, 'do whatever you want'... there's no longer a military presence for Hezbollah south of the Litani." Most of the ammunition found by the army was either damaged from Israeli bombing or in such poor condition that it became impossible to stock them, prompting the military to detonate them. Overall, the source noted that Hezbollah has primarily been compliant, but there remain challenges in verifying these claims, as no independent confirmation has been reported.
- The Lebanese army's strategically significant move has led to the dismantling of over 90% of Hezbollah's military infrastructure south of the Litani River, according to a confidential security source.
- With the Lebanese army now controlling over 85% of the country's south, President Joseph Aoun stressed that the army is executing its role without any issues or resistance.
- The November ceasefire agreement required Hezbollah to relocate its fighters north of the Litani River and dismantle any remaining military installations south of it, as per a UN Security Council resolution.
- While Hezbollah's cooperation with the army remains unconfirmed, the Lebanese army has claimed that much of Hezbollah's robust underground infrastructure in the south has been filled and closed.
- One obstacle preventing the complete deployment of soldiers across the border region is Israel's continued occupation of five strategic border positions, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
