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Hezbollah Cedes 190 of 265 Sites in Southern Lebanon to Army Amid November Ceasefire

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Updated Apr 14, 2025, 01:35 PM

Hezbollah has withdrawn from the majority of its military positions in southern Lebanon, transferring control to the Lebanese army as part of a November ceasefire agreement with Israel. This move follows a period of intense cross-border clashes that escalated into a full-scale war in September of the previous year, resulting in over 4,000 casualties and widespread destruction. Approximately 190 out of 265 identified Hezbollah military sites south of the Litani River have been ceded to the Lebanese army, according to a source close to the group. The ceasefire deal also required Israel to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon by February 18, a deadline it has not fully met as it maintains a presence at five strategic points near the border. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has emphasized the need for the Lebanese army to fulfill its duties in areas from which Israel has withdrawn, in accordance with UN Resolution 1701. Aoun also stressed that any armed force outside the state's framework poses a threat to Lebanon's interests, advocating for the state and its official security forces to be the sole protectors of the country. On the 50th anniversary of the start of Lebanon's civil war, which began on April 13, 1975, and lasted 15 years, President Aoun called for dialogue and unity, highlighting the importance of avoiding violence and the central role of the state and army in protecting Lebanon. The conflict left about 150,000 people dead and 17,000 missing. Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has echoed the call for a strong state and the monopoly of legitimate armed forces, signaling a push towards national unity and the disarmament of non-state actors like Hezbollah.

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