Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ensuring that the State retains a monopoly on the use of arms “north and south of the Litani,” reiterating his pledge to advance the Lebanese army’s efforts to strengthen its control over the country’s southern regions.

“The army is making serious progress. It’s expanding and consolidating its presence in the south,” Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told The Washington Post, reaffirming his government’s commitment to ensuring that all weapons, “north and south of the Litani,”  are placed under the State's exclusive control. 

The Lebanese army has bolstered its presence in the country’s south over the past several months, taking significant steps to dismantle Hezbollah’s positions and confiscate its arms under the terms of a U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreement between the militant group and Israel, military officials and diplomats told The Washington Post.

Since the ceasefire was brokered, Lebanon’s military has reportedly deployed an additional 1,500 troops to the southern region near the Israeli border, bringing the total number of soldiers stationed in the area to 6,000. Military officials revealed that another 4,000 troops are currently being recruited to further reinforce the region. The army has also resumed reconnaissance flights, set up checkpoints, and secured towns in the south following the Israeli withdrawal.

The ceasefire agreement outlines the gradual deployment of 10,000 Lebanese soldiers, who are tasked with confiscating Hezbollah’s weapons and dismantling the group’s positions. The implementation of the plan is being overseen by a five-member committee, led by a U.S. official. According to a diplomat familiar with the matter, the committee receives coordinates from either Israeli forces or U.N. peacekeepers regarding Hezbollah’s arms depots and missile launchers. The Lebanese army then takes action based on that intelligence. Thus far, military officials have confirmed that more than 500 Hezbollah-operated military sites have been dismantled.

Edward Gabriel, former U.S. diplomat and president of the American Task Force on Lebanon, expressed concerns that the Lebanese military will need additional training and resources to effectively disarm Hezbollah. He urged the United States to continue supporting the Lebanese armed forces in this effort.