Lebanon's government and army have not made sufficient efforts to disarm Hezbollah, and this is evidenced by the terror group's efforts, with Iran's help, to rearm and reestablish its infrastructure, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated on Thursday afternoon.
The prime minister's comments came after the Lebanese army stated earlier that day that, outside the Israeli-controlled areas, it had achieved operational control south of Lebanon’s Litani River, had moved into “an advanced stage” of monopolizing arms in the area, and was committed to ensuring that armed actors are never again able to use the border area as a staging ground for military actions.
The statement reaffirmed the army’s commitment to being the sole actor responsible for maintaining security in Lebanon, with an emphasis on the area south of the Litani River
To this end, Lebanon’s army claimed “that its plan to consolidate weapons has entered an advanced stage, following the effective and tangible achievement of the objectives of the first phase on the ground.”
According to the army, having completed the initial phase, it has gained full operational control south of the Litani River, with the exception of those areas under the control of the IDF.
Lebanese army statement lacks mention of Hezbollah
The statement did not mention Hezbollah, which agreed to a ceasefire with Israel in November 2024 after the IDF decimated its ranks, upper command, and infrastructure. The agreement stipulated that only Lebanon’s state security forces were allowed to carry arms.
Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began again after the group began launching attacks on Israel on October 8, 2023, in solidarity with terrorist groups in Gaza after the Hamas-led massacres in southern Israel sparked the Gaza war.
A Lebanese security source told Reuters that the statement signaled that no group would be able to launch attacks from southern Lebanon.
Nevertheless, since the start of the ceasefire, the IDF has repeatedly struck at Hezbollah operatives working to reestablish the group in southern Lebanon.
In November of last year, the IDF stated that it had killed over 370 Hezbollah combatants since the ceasefire agreement went into effect a year earlier.
Additionally, sources in the IDF's Intelligence Directorate last month told Walla that it was clear within several months of the implementation of the agreement that the Lebanese army was incapable of exerting power over Hezbollah.
Further, the directorate noted that Hezbollah "double agents" had infiltrated the army's ranks.
'Far from sufficient'
In the Israeli prime minister's response to the Lebanese army's statement, Netanyahu's office stated that "The ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States between Israel and Lebanon states clearly, Hezbollah must be fully disarmed. This is imperative for Israel's security and Lebanon's future."
The PMO added that "Efforts made toward this end by the Lebanese Government and the Lebanese Armed Forces are an encouraging beginning, but they are far from sufficient, as evidenced by Hezbollah's efforts to rearm and rebuild its terror infrastructure with Iranian support."
Israel's foreign ministry also slammed the Lebanese claims, stating that "the facts remain that extensive Hezbollah military infrastructure still exists south of the Litani River. The goal of disarming Hezbollah in southern Lebanon remains far from being achieved."
The ministry published a video along with the statement, showing areas in southern Lebanon, where it says Hezbollah has infrastructure and other assets.
The statement, published on X/Twitter, added that "Israel acknowledges the decision of the Lebanese government to address the disarmament of Hezbollah and some of the efforts the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have made in this context," but noted that the efforts were still nevertheless "limited."
Former defense minister Yoav Gallant also criticized the statement in a Thursday post on X/Twitter, calling the Lebanese army's action "lax and avoiding friction with Hezbollah," and claimed that, despite the statement, Lebanon has not fulfilled its side of the agreement between the two countries.
"Despite its announcement this morning, the Lebanese army is acting with laxity and avoiding friction with Hezbollah," Gallant wrote. "As a result, the agreement is not being upheld, and terror infrastructures are not being neutralized."
"The dismantling of the missile array, the elimination of Nasrallah and Hezbollah's leadership, and the destruction of terror infrastructures along the northern border came at a heavy price—from Israeli citizens in general and from residents of the north in particular."
Gallant concluded by affirming Israel's obligation to monitor Hezbollah and "strike Lebanese terror wherever required" in order to prevent future threats.
IDF conducts second strike in 24 hours on southern Lebanon
The IDF conducted an airstrike in the Zaita region of southern Lebanon on Thursday, killing a Hezbollah operative, according to an official army statement.
The strike, per the statement, was in response to "Hezbollah's continued violations of the ceasefire understandings."
This comes less than 24 hours after the IDF struck Jouaiyya, southern Lebanon, killing a Hezbollah terrorist from the group's 127th Aerial Unit. The terrorist was taking part in re-establishing the terror group's infrastructure in the region, according to a Wednesday statement.
Reuters and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.