Khaberni - Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Saturday that Lebanon is nearing the completion of the disarmament of Hezbollah south of the Litani River, amidst the country's intense efforts to implement one of the most important clauses of the ceasefire agreement with Israel before the end of the year.
The ceasefire agreement, which was supported by the United States and agreed upon in November 2024, ended over a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, and stipulated the disarmament of the Iran-aligned group starting from the areas south of the river, which are adjacent to Israel.
The Lebanese authorities, led by President Joseph Aoun and Salam, tasked the US-supported army on August 5th to devise a plan to confine arms to the state by the end of the year.
A statement from the Prime Minister's office mentioned, "Salam confirmed that the first phase of the arms confinement plan related to the south of the Litani River is just days away from completion."
Salam added, "The state is ready to move to the second phase, i.e., to the north of the Litani River, based on the plan prepared by the Lebanese army upon the government's assignment."
The statement came after a meeting between Salam and Simon Karam, the head of the negotiating team in the civilian committee supervising the truce between Hezbollah and Israel.
Since the ceasefire, the two parties have exchanged accusations of repeated violations, with Israel doubting the Lebanese army's efforts to disarm Hezbollah. Israeli warplanes intensified their targeting of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and even in the capital, Beirut.
Israel has publicly urged the Lebanese authorities to fulfill the terms of the truce, confirming it will take action "if necessary" if Lebanon does not take steps against Hezbollah.
