Lebanon Faces a Decisive Month as Deadline to Disarm Hezbollah Nears

Lebanon stands at a critical juncture as the deadline approaches for disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani River, amid growing Israeli and international concerns over a possible escalation.

Israeli media reported that the Israeli army is on high alert to confront any potential escalation along the northern border with Lebanon, given Hezbollah’s increasing activity in several areas, including north of the Litani, the Beqaa Valley, and southern Beirut.

Sources added that the group is working to rebuild parts of its offensive capabilities, while Israel focuses on preventing any party from strengthening its military power near the border. Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated that any threat posed by Hezbollah could extend to areas inside Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the United States is exerting pressure on the Lebanese government to assume its responsibilities regarding Hezbollah’s disarmament, viewing Lebanon’s stability as dependent on ending the dominance of weapons outside state control. Lebanon, however, faces internal challenges, as the state appears unable to enforce its decisions while Hezbollah remains committed to its military stance.

At the same time, Israel continues to bolster its military presence along the border and conduct airstrikes targeting infrastructure and elements linked to the group. On Saturday, the Israeli army killed four individuals it said were members of Hezbollah’s elite unit, supported by Iran.