Israeli Intel Aids Lebanese Army in Achieving 80% of its Goals to Disarm Hezbollah Near Border

Lebanon’s military has dramatically reduced Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in southern Lebanon using Israeli intelligence passed through U.S. intermediaries, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. This effort has been key to preserving the fragile ceasefire brokered in November that ended intense fighting with Israel, after Hezbollah terrorists spent a year lobbing missiles and drones into Israel’s north, displacing tens of thousands of people.

The government of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam now faces the complex task of expanding these gains nationwide—a major test for Lebanon’s unstable state.

In an emphatic interview with the Journal, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stressed the importance of government monopoly on arms across Lebanon, reinforcing his point by banging his fists. “All over the Lebanese territory, the state should have a monopoly on arms,” Salam stated. He noted that approximately 80% of the military’s disarmament goals in the southern region had been reached, marking a dramatic transformation in a Hezbollah-dominated area.

High-ranking Arab officials told the Journal that Israeli intelligence, shared through U.S. channels, has enabled the Lebanese army to locate and dismantle Hezbollah arms caches and military positions in the south. While unusable weapons are destroyed, the army incorporates serviceable arms into its own limited stockpile, improving its operational readiness.

The Lebanese army has established a firm presence south of the Litani River, taking control of vital routes in areas once ruled by Hezbollah. An Israeli defense source remarked, “We do see a lot of areas where the Lebanese army is way more effective than expected,” and added, “The IDF is generally pleased by this trend and we are expecting it to continue.”

The Lebanese government is also targeting Palestinian terror groups, especially those based in crowded areas, as part of a broader disarmament plan, the Journal reported. In April, the army detained members of a Palestinian faction accused of launching rockets at Israel—an unusual move that signals a wider effort to establish state control.

Per the ceasefire agreement, disarmament efforts started in the region south of the Litani River near the Israeli border. However, both Prime Minister Salam and U.S. officials are advocating for these efforts to be extended across the country. Senior Lebanese security sources confirmed that Hezbollah has stepped back from security responsibilities in southern areas, including Beirut’s airport.

Individuals familiar with Hezbollah’s internal strategy suggested to the Journal that its cooperation in the south may be a tactical move to improve its political image. Lebanon is seeking financial aid for reconstruction from Western and Gulf nations—many of which tie assistance to reductions in Hezbollah’s influence. However, the group’s willingness to disarm beyond the south remains unclear.