Lebanese Army Says It Has Secured State Control of Arms in the South

In a significant declaration, the Lebanese Army announced on Thursday that it has effectively established the state’s monopoly on weapons across southern Lebanon. This achievement marks a critical step in a prolonged effort to solidify government authority in the sensitive region bordering Israel.

The military stated it has extended its operational control over the south, fulfilling a year-end deadline to clear non-state arms from the area. The announcement described this control as secured in an “effective and tangible way,” a phrase signaling confidence in the deployment and enforcement of its mandate.

However, the army was careful to outline ongoing challenges. It noted that substantial work remains to clear unexploded ordnance and dismantle tunnels in the region—a legacy of past conflicts. Furthermore, it explicitly excluded areas still occupied by Israeli troops from its declaration of control, acknowledging this persistent complication.

Notably absent from the statement was any direct mention of Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese armed group that wields considerable influence and has historically operated independently in the south. The move comes in the context of the 2024 ceasefire agreement that ended a year-long war with Israel, which stipulated that only official Lebanese security forces may bear arms.

This public declaration serves multiple purposes. It projects an image of restored sovereignty and order to both the Lebanese public and the international community. It also reinforces the army’s role as the sole legitimate armed force, as per the ceasefire terms. The careful language underscores a complex reality: while the state asserts its formal authority, the path to full, uncontested control in a region with deep political and military fissures remains a work in progress.

The international community, which has long called for the state’s authority to extend over all Lebanese territory, will likely view this as a positive, though preliminary, development. The true test will be the sustainability of this control and the army’s ability to maintain this monopoly permanently, ensuring long-term stability in a historically volatile frontier.

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