Lebanon's Army Needs 4 Months for Hezbollah Disarmament Phase 2

Lebanon's government announced that its army will need at least four months to complete the second phase of a plan to disarm Hezbollah in the country's south. This initiative is part of a US-brokered ceasefire from November 2024, which aimed to end over a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The first phase of the plan, covering the area between the Litani River and the Israeli border, has been completed. The second phase focuses on the region between the Litani and Awali rivers. Information Minister Paul Morcos stated that the timeframe is extendable due to available capabilities, Israeli attacks, and ground hindrances. Israel has criticized Lebanon's progress as insufficient, accusing Hezbollah of rearming, and continues to conduct strikes in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah, led by Naim Qassem, has rejected calls to surrender its weapons, calling the disarmament efforts a 'grave sin' that serves Israeli interests and blaming government concessions for ongoing Israeli attacks. The situation highlights the complex internal and external pressures on Lebanon.