Lebanese Armed Forces Expand Disarmament Operations Beyond the Litani

The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have officially transitioned to the next stage of their national security strategy, the “Homeland Shield” plan. Following the successful sweep of the border regions, the military is now moving deeper into territory previously dominated by non-state actors, specifically Hezbollah.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

Progress Update: From the Border to the Awali

The military has declared the “first phase” of disarmament complete. This phase focused on the high-tension zone between the Blue Line and the Litani River.

• Phase 1 Success: LAF units have secured the region south of the Litani, dismantling hundreds of rocket-launching sites and deep-earth weapon caches.
• The New Front Line: Operations are now pushing north into the sector between the Litani River and the Awali River. This shift is significant as it brings state forces into the outskirts of major population centers like Sidon.
• The “Five-Phase” Roadmap: The government aims to achieve a total state monopoly on weapons across the entire country by the end of December 2026.

The Strategic Roadmap

The “Homeland Shield” plan uses a geographic “step-up” approach to avoid sudden escalations in sensitive urban areas:

Phase	Region	Focus
Phase 1	South of Litani	Border security and tunnel demolition (Completed).
Phase 2	Litani to Awali	Clearing southern access routes and Sidon outskirts (Active).
Phase 3	Beirut & Suburbs	Securing the capital and the Dahieh district.
Phase 4	Bekaa Valley	Targeting large-scale logistical hubs and depots.
Phase 5	Nationwide	Finalizing the state’s sole authority over all weaponry.

Obstacles to Stability

While the military has momentum, two primary risks threaten the plan’s success:

1. Sectarian Tension: While Hezbollah has pulled back from the border to maintain the 2024 ceasefire, they have signaled that moving into urban strongholds (Phase 3) could be viewed as a provocation.
2. Border Friction: The LAF cannot declare Phase 1 fully “concluded” until Israel vacates five remaining hilltop outposts on the Lebanese side of the border.
3. Palestinian Factions: The military is simultaneously negotiating with Palestinian groups in refugee camps. While some groups like Fatah have started symbolic handovers, others remain resistant.

The Path Ahead

The international community remains the primary backbone of this operation. A high-level donor conference is set for February 2026, where global powers will discuss the funding required to pay LAF soldier salaries and provide the advanced equipment needed to patrol the Bekaa Valley.