Lebanon army says it completed 1st phase of disarmament plan
Lebanon's military announced Thursday that it had achieved the goal of a state monopoly on arms in the south of the country in an "effective and tangible way," but noted this was only "the first phase" and that the work "is still ongoing, until the handling of unexploded ordnance and tunnels is completed."

The Lebanese army had given itself until the end of 2025 to complete the first phase of its plan to clear the south and disarm non-state groups, including Hezbollah. The Iran-backed group has been resisting attempts to disarm it, as Israel continues its bombardment of the south and east of the country where Hezbollah has traditionally held sway.
Thursday's statement does not mention Hezbollah or others by name, but notes that the Lebanese army aims to prevent "armed groups from irreversibly rebuilding their capabilities."
There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah or Israel.
-ABC News' Morgan Winsor




