Lebanese Army to fully disarm Hezbollah near Israeli border, says foreign minister

Lebanon’s military will fully disarm Hezbollah in the country’s southern region near the Israeli border within three months, Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi told AFP, outlining a significant shift in Lebanon’s internal security policy under mounting international pressure.

In August, the Lebanese government tasked the army with drafting a comprehensive disarmament strategy for Hezbollah—a once-dominant militant and political force—by the end of the year. The move follows sustained pressure from the United States and a surge in Israeli military strikes targeting Hezbollah positions across Lebanon.

While the cabinet confirmed last week that the army would begin executing the disarmament plan, details had remained scarce until now.

Raggi revealed that army chief Rodolphe Haykal had presented a five-stage disarmament plan to the government last week, with the first and most critical phase focusing on the region south of the Litani River—approximately 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border.

“The first stage should take three months... during which the removal of weapons will be completed south of the Litani River,” Raggi said, adding that this phase is scheduled for completion by the end of November.

“There will be no warehouses, no weapons, no weapons transfers, no fighters, and no display of arms in the area,” he continued, describing the army’s mandate.

In parallel with the initial phase, the Lebanese Armed Forces will ramp up nationwide security measures to support the disarmament process.

According to Raggi, the army will “tighten and increase the number of checkpoints, prevent the movement and carrying of weapons... but without conducting raids, arresting individuals, or confiscating weapons from warehouses.”

“At the very least, the movement of weapons from one area to another will be prohibited,” he noted.

The next four phases of the army’s disarmament plan will target other regions, including Beirut and the eastern Bekaa Valley, though Raggi confirmed that no specific timelines have been set for these subsequent stages.

Hezbollah, which has traditionally maintained a powerful armed wing outside the control of the Lebanese state, has been severely weakened over the past year amid ongoing hostilities with Israel. A two-month period of open conflict reportedly decimated its leadership and destroyed a significant portion of its arsenal.

The Lebanese government has characterized the disarmament initiative—strongly opposed by Hezbollah—as part of the broader implementation of a ceasefire agreement that ended the war with Israel in November last year.

The ceasefire deal also called for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory and an end to Israeli airstrikes. However, Israel has continued bombing raids in Lebanon and maintains a military presence at five strategic points along the shared border, drawing criticism from Beirut.

By Vafa Guliyeva