The Lebanese army has successfully dismantled over 90 percent of Hezbollah's military infrastructure south of the Litani River, according to a senior security official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The operation follows a November ceasefire agreement that ended more than a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. Under the UN-backed deal, Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers are designated as the only forces permitted in southern Lebanon.
The agreement required Hezbollah to withdraw its fighters north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers from the Israeli border, and remove all military installations to the south. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun confirmed in a Sky News Arabia interview that the army now controls over 85 percent of the country's southern region.
"Most of Hezbollah's underground infrastructure in the south was filled and closed by the army," the security official stated. The military has also strengthened control of crossing points to prevent weapons transfers across the Litani River.
According to the official, Hezbollah has been cooperative with the army's efforts, effectively withdrawing from the area and allowing the military to proceed with dismantling operations. Much of the discovered munitions were either damaged by Israeli bombing or in unusable condition, requiring controlled detonation.
However, full deployment of Lebanese forces faces one remaining obstacle - Israel's continued occupation of five border positions deemed "strategic" by Israeli authorities. Under the ceasefire terms, Israel was required to withdraw all forces from southern Lebanon.
The developments mark a notable shift in control over Lebanon's southern territory as Beirut works to assert increased authority in the region under international supervision.