The Lebanese army has intensified its efforts in the areas bordering Israel. This is the troubled area where there was a 14-month war between Israel and the Hezbollah terrorist group. Parts of the area, south of the Litani River and north of the Israeli border, were previously Hezbollah strongholds and were inaccessible to the Lebanese National Army and UN peacekeepers deployed in the area.
But since the end of the Israel-Hezbollah war a year ago, the Lebanese army has increased its presence along the border to about 10,000 troops, closing 11 crossing points used for smuggling along the Litani River.
Israel is conducting air strikes daily
According to the information, the Lebanese Army on Friday took dozens of journalists from local and international media on a tour of the inaccessible areas along the border. Its soldiers could be seen in places where Hezbollah once had a heavy military presence. Israel has been carrying out almost daily airstrikes since the November 2024 ceasefire, mainly targeting Hezbollah members but also killing 127 civilians, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Hezbollah took responsibility for the attack
Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for only one attack on an Israeli military post since last November. The group says it no longer has any armed presence south of the Litani River near the border. Hezbollah rejected the disarmament plan. Hezbollah refuses to discuss complete disarmament in Lebanon unless Israel ceases its attacks and withdraws from the five mountainous points it captured during the war, which it still holds.
Hamas attacked Israel
The most recent Israel-Hezbollah war began on October 8, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in solidarity with Hamas. Israel carried out a two-month long massive bombardment of Lebanon last year that seriously weakened Hezbollah, prompting a ground offensive.
In August, the Lebanese government voted in favor of a US-backed plan to disarm Hezbollah. Hezbollah rejected this plan. In recent weeks, Israel has said that Hezbollah is working to rebuild its capabilities in southern Lebanon.
control of lebanese troops
Brigadier General Nicolas Thabet, commander of the Lebanese army in the area south of the Litani River, said the Lebanese army is making tremendous efforts at this important period in the region’s history. Journalists were taken to the Zibqin Valley on Friday, where Hezbollah’s rocket launchers, tunnels and positions were once hidden in a bushy area. The extremist group had no presence there and its former outposts had either been attacked or are now under the control of Lebanese troops.
Six military experts died
The approximately 100 meters (328 ft) long tunnel deep into a mountain, previously used by Hezbollah, contained a small medical clinic, a ventilation system, electrical cables, water tankers and large quantities of canned food. Jibkin Valley is where ammunition stored in an arms depot exploded in August, killing six military experts who were dismantling it.
Ceasefire violated 5,198 times
Thabet said that no matter what the difficulties are, we will not give up our goals. He further said that the army is making great sacrifices in one of the most dangerous areas of the Middle East. Weapons and tunnels were found. Army officials told journalists that Israel had violated the ceasefire 5,198 times since the armistice, including 657 airstrikes. He said that 13,981 residential units were destroyed due to the war, and infrastructure in border villages was also damaged.
200 posts south of the Litani River
He said some of the weapons and ammunition they found were destroyed or exploded, while others were kept in storage. He told that the army takes with itself the weapons which can be used. The army now has 200 posts south of the Litani River, as well as 29 permanent posts, and conducts round-the-clock patrolling, officials said.
On September 5, the army strengthened its efforts in the region after the government decided to disarm Hezbollah. Since then, troops have discovered 74 mines, 175 rocket launchers and 58 missiles. Thabet said the army does not enter homes to search without a judicial order and does so only if they see illegal activity taking place.
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