The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have made unexpectedly rapid progress in dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in southern Lebanon, aided by Israeli intelligence passed through U.S. intermediaries, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
Approximately 80 percent of the government’s disarmament objectives in the south have been achieved, according to Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, marking a dramatic shift in the country’s security landscape.
“All over the Lebanese territory, the state should have a monopoly on arms,” Salam said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. He confirmed that the government has largely succeeded in removing Hezbollah’s weapons stockpiles and military posts in the south, an achievement that has surprised senior officials in Washington and Jerusalem.
A senior Israeli Defense Forces officer described the Lebanese army’s actions as “way more effective than expected,” and noted that U.S. and Israeli officials are “pleased” with the progress.
However, David Daoud, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), clarified how the intelligence sharing functions. “There is no direct intelligence sharing or coordination between Israel and LAF,” Daoud said. “The IDF gives the ceasefire oversight committee intelligence regarding Hezbollah activities or positions violating the ceasefire. The committee then passes this information to the LAF, which has 72 hours to act. If the LAF doesn’t act, then Israel does.”
Daoud also noted that while the LAF’s operations represent a marked improvement over previous practices, there are indications that Hezbollah may be allowing these gains, possibly to preserve its influence or prepare for future negotiations.
Daoud’s observations are underscored by Israel’s continued military pressure. On May 29, the Israeli military confirmed an airstrike in the Beaufort Ridge area, eliminating a Hezbollah operative accused of rebuilding fire and defense infrastructure.
Salam further underscored that the government’s disarmament efforts aim to consolidate state authority across Lebanon. “We don’t want to put the country onto a civil-war track, but believe me, this is not going to affect our commitment to the need to extend and consolidate the authority of the state,” he told The Wall Street Journal.
The government’s next steps involve addressing armed Palestinian factions operating in refugee camps, as well as confronting Hezbollah’s entrenched presence in areas north of the Litani River.
The disarmament has drawn international attention due to its implications for Lebanon’s internal stability and regional dynamics. For the first time in decades, the government has managed to assert control over large areas in southern Lebanon, a region long dominated by Hezbollah.
Though some analysts and officials have speculated that Hezbollah’s cooperation may be driven by the prospect of securing foreign reconstruction aid from Western and Gulf states, contingent on reduced militia power.
Hezbollah, which emerged during Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war, retains significant influence within the country’s Shia-majority areas and is believed to possess one of the most potent non state arsenals globally.
