PM Says Hezbollah 'Disarmed' South of Litani, History Disagrees
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam proudly announced Lebanon is 'close' to disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani, a key demand of their November 2024 ceasefire with Israel, per Al-Monitor. This 'breakthrough' comes with a year-end deadline, a timeline as ambitious as previous attempts. Historically, UNSC Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war, also explicitly called for the withdrawal of all
armed groups (excluding UNIFIL and the Lebanese army) south of the Litani River. Yet, 18 years later, the 'disarmament' remains an elusive goal, much like finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. One might wonder if this latest declaration is less about actual disarmament and more about providing political cover, perhaps for the next round of 'aid' packages or continued military support from
the U.S. that conveniently overlooks the consistent failure to meet these terms. How many times can the same demand be 'nearly completed' before it's actually just... still unresolved, a perpetual talking point for news cycles and think tank reports?