Is Hezbollah finished? Lebanese army claims state monopoly on arms south of Litani

The Lebanese army said on Thursday it has achieved a state monopoly on weapons in southern Lebanon, a declaration that directly raises questions about the future of Hezbollah following its year-long war with Israel.

According to a Reuters report, the army, in a statement, described its control over the south as “effective and tangible,” while noting that additional efforts are required to clear unexploded ordnance and dismantle tunnels in the area.

The military had set a year-end deadline to remove non-state weaponry from southern Lebanon, which borders Israel, before extending similar operations to other regions.

It said it has now expanded operational control across the south, except for areas still occupied by Israeli troops.

Although Hezbollah was not mentioned by name, a Lebanese security source told Reuters the statement signalled that no armed group would be able to launch attacks from southern Lebanon.

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Lebanon has faced growing pressure from the United States and Israel to disarm Hezbollah, with Lebanese leaders fearing Israel could dramatically escalate strikes across the country to force the confiscation of the group’s arsenal.

Israel and Lebanon agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire in 2024, ending more than a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

The conflict culminated in Israeli strikes that significantly weakened the Iran-backed group, and since then both sides have traded accusations of ceasefire violations.

With inputs from agencies