Lebanon’s Army will continue efforts to confine weapons in the north of the Litani River, just as it has done in the south, Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Metri said.

Speaking to Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath, Metri said Army Commander General Rodolph Haykal will present the Cabinet with a plan for the second phase of disarmament, covering the area between the Litani and Awali Rivers, following his return from a visit to the United States.

Metri acknowledged that Hezbollah’s refusal to surrender its weapons north of the Litani River presents a significant challenge but emphasized that the government remains committed to enforcing disarmament across the country.

“The State is determined to confine all weapons nationwide and will not back down,” he said.

The deputy prime minister underscored that decisions on war and peace rest solely with the government, which rejects dragging Lebanon into regional conflicts or turning the country into a battlefield for others.

Addressing Hezbollah’s stance toward Iran, Metri noted that the group did not support Tehran during last summer’s conflict.

“We hope Hezbollah will act rationally again if a conflict arises against Iran and spare Lebanon from its consequences,” he said.

On judicial matters, Metri said more than 300 Syrian prisoners who have served over ten years of their sentences will be handed over to Syrian authorities under a judicial agreement to complete their terms.

Metri also confirmed that demarcation of Lebanon’s land border with Syria is set to begin soon, highlighting the ongoing work of a joint Lebanese-Syrian committee.

Additionally, he revealed that the government has submitted a draft law to Parliament creating a judicial body with the authority to reduce sentences for Lebanese prisoners. If approved, the measure could result in reduced sentences for a significant number of inmates, regardless of the crimes for which they were convicted.