Lebanon Awaits Army Report to Resolve Arms Control Issue North of the Litani
Lebanese Minister of Information Paul Marqas confirmed that the Lebanese government is awaiting the report from the Commander of the Lebanese Army next Monday to complete the process of arms control in the country, noting that the next step will be determined based on the content of the report.
In statements to Al Arabiya, Marqas emphasized that the government guarantees civil peace, and that the majority of political forces support the principle of arms control, affirming that the ministerial statement is the framework within which the government operates, focusing on the return of the state to southern Lebanon by enhancing security, launching reconstruction pathways, and achieving prosperity.
* The Lebanese Army Expands Its Control
The Lebanese Army announced last January that it had extended operational control over the areas between the Litani River and the Israeli borders, while the Cabinet requested from it in early February a plan on how to proceed with disarmament in other parts of Lebanon.
Lebanon aims to place all weapons under state control, in line with the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States in November 2024, which ended the war with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group.
* Ongoing Tensions in the South
Despite the agreement, Israel has been conducting regular airstrikes in Lebanon since the end of the war, resulting in the deaths of about 400 people according to Lebanese security sources.
The Israeli army reported last Thursday that it targeted a Hezbollah member in the town of Tayr, southern Lebanon, accusing the group of attempting to rearm in violation of the ceasefire agreement, while Hezbollah affirms its commitment to the truce.
