BEIRUT — A reconnaissance aircraft belonging to the Lebanese Army flew at low altitude over areas south of the Litani River on Saturday, according to our correspondent in the South, Muntasser Abdallah.

Earlier this month, Lebanese Army aircraft flew over southern Lebanon for the first time since the 1978 Israeli invasion. Since that time, the Israeli military has prohibited Lebanese military or civilian aircraft from entering southern airspace.

While a fragile cease-fire has been in place since Nov. 27, 2024, following 13 months of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, the Lebanese state — under the leadership of President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam — appears increasingly intent on reestablishing its presence in the South. This move, reportedly encouraged by international partners, is seen as part of a broader effort to reassert state authority.