Lebanese army strengthens border presence, dismantles Hezbollah posts along Israel border

Zibqin Valley, Lebanon The Lebanese military has stepped up its operations along the border with Israel in the area that endured a 14-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Previously, regions south of the Litani River and near the Israeli frontier were controlled by Hezbollah, restricting access for the national army and UN peacekeepers. Since last years ceasefire, Lebanon has deployed nearly 10,000 troops in the area, shut down 11 smuggling routes along the Litani River, and is managing large quantities of unexploded ordnance, according to senior military officials.

On Friday, the army escorted local and international journalists on a tour of the rugged border territory, showcasing areas that were once strongholds of Hezbollah. Israeli airstrikes have been almost daily since the November 2024 ceasefire, targeting Hezbollah fighters but resulting in 127 civilian casualties, as reported by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Hezbollah has acknowledged responsibility for a single attack on an Israeli military post since the ceasefire, asserting it no longer maintains an armed presence south of the Litani River.

The group insists it will not fully disarm until Israel ceases its attacks and withdraws from five strategic hilltop positions captured during the last war. The most recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict began on October 8, 2023, following a Hamas attack on southern Israel, after which Hezbollah launched rockets in support. Israel responded with a two-month bombardment and a ground invasion, significantly weakening Hezbollah. In August, the Lebanese government approved a U.S.-backed initiative to disarm Hezbollah, which the group rejected.

Recently, Israel has warned that Hezbollah is rebuilding capabilities in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese army is making tremendous efforts during this critical period in the history of the region, said Brig. Gen. Nicolas Thabet, commanding the sector south of the Litani River.

Journalists visited Zibqin Valley, once home to Hezbollah rocket launchers, tunnels, and hidden positions. The area is now fully under army control. A nearly 100-meter tunnel inside a mountain, previously used by Hezbollah, contained a small medical clinic, ventilation systems, power supplies, water tanks, and food reserves. The valley was also the site of an August munitions depot explosion that killed six army specialists.

We will not abandon our goals despite the challenges, Thabet stated, noting that the army is making significant sacrifices in one of the most volatile parts of the Middle East. Officers reported 5,198 Israeli ceasefire violations, including 657 airstrikes, and noted the destruction of 13,981 housing units along with extensive infrastructure damage. Recoverable weapons have been collected by the army, while other ordnance has been safely detonated or stored.

The military currently operates 200 posts south of the Litani River, alongside 29 permanent checkpoints, and maintains 24/7 patrols. Since the government's September 5 decision to disarm Hezbollah, troops have uncovered 74 tunnels, 175 rocket launchers, and 58 missiles. Thabet emphasized that the army does not enter private homes without a judicial order, except when illegal activity is observed directly.

Author: Sophia Brooks