Lebanese soldiers deployed in Houla on Feb. 18, 2025, hours after the retreat of the Israeli army. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — The Lebanese Army started entering certain Hezbollah camps in several areas north of the Litani River, sources close to the Baabda Palace and the Grand Serail told L'Orient Today.
According to the information, the process would happen slowly and discreetly. No details were provided on the exact areas in which these camps are located or how the army was deploying there, with the exception of one site in the Bekaa previously targeted by the Israeli army and where Lebanese Army seized ammunition.
It was not clear what exactly happened after the Lebanese army entered the camps but L'Orient Today did not receive reports of any clash between the army and Hezbollah, which likely means that the process has been taking place peacefully.
On Thursday night, Al Jadeed reported that the Lebanese army had entered "additional camps that Hezbollah had not previously surrendered north of the Litani," adding that the army was close to finalizing the dismantling of Hezbollah's structure south of the Litani.
According to the station, "weapons will gradually be restricted, starting with the regularization of the security situation in South Litani, where the Lebanese Army is deployed, in parallel with the withdrawal of Israeli forces."
"Later, an agreement will be reached with Hezbollah on the handover mechanism," Al Jadeed added.
Meanwhile, L'Orient Today's correspondent in the south reported that according to circulating information, the Lebanese army entered Hezbollah's sites in the vicinity of the village of Zawtar (Nabatieh), located along the Litani River.
Despite the cease-fire agreement between Lebanon and Israel reached in late November 2024 following more than 13 months of conflict, the situation remains tense. On Friday, several incidents took place at the Lebanese-Israeli border: A group of Israeli soldiers crossed the Lebanese border, and infiltrated areas around Wazzani (Hasbaya) Israeli forces, located in the occupied Hamames hill, opened fire twice south of Khiam (Marjeyoun) with machine guns and finally, three Israeli artillery shells targeted the village of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil).
Currently, Lebanese authorities are discussing the disarmament of Hezbollah, a topic that gained momentum following the war between Hezbollah and Israel from Oct. 8, 2023, to Nov. 27, 2024. Hezbollah emerged severely weakened, having lost many leaders, fighters and a large portion of its rocket arsenal.
The disarmament of Hezbollah is one of the key components of Resolution 1701, which put an end to the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah but which has not yet been implemented. This commitment lies at the heart of the conditions required to transform the truce reached in November into a lasting calm between Israel and Hezbollah. The Israeli army is still occupying five strategic positions in southern Lebanon, although it was supposed to withdraw on Feb. 18. The cease-fire was marred by other violations, including recent strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, the first since Nov. 27.
While Nawaf Salam's government and President Joseph Aoun have repeatedly affirmed their determination to restore the Lebanese army's monopoly on arms, the leader of the Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea, set on Friday an ultimatum for the disarmament of Hezbollah, stating that the party should hand over its arsenal to the state within six months, dismissing any prospect of achieving this goal through "a dialogue around a national defense strategy."