BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese military said Thursday it had completed the "first phase" of a troop deployment across southern Lebanon, a move Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed as inadequate to disarm Hezbollah.
In a statement, the Lebanese Armed Forces described the deployment as a "tangible achievement," saying a plan to place weapons exclusively under state control had entered a new stage, particularly in areas south of the Litani River. The military said the initial phase focused on securing territory vacated by Israeli forces, while noting that some locations remain under Israeli occupation.
Speaking shortly after the announcement, Netanyahu said Israel remained dissatisfied with the pace and scope of enforcement.
"Efforts made toward this end by the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Armed Forces are far from sufficient," Netanyahu said in a statement, adding that the cease-fire requires Hezbollah's complete disarmament. He also accused the group of attempting to rebuild its arsenal with backing from Iran.
Lebanese officials, by contrast, portrayed the deployment as a significant step toward restoring state authority.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun praised the military's role in reasserting sovereignty but said lasting stability would remain elusive as long as Israeli forces continue to occupy Lebanese territory and maintain buffer zones.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri warned that continued Israeli strikes risk undermining United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 -- the diplomatic framework to maintain peace between Lebanon and Israel -- and accused Israel of seeking to weaken the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
Adopted unanimously in August 2006 to end the 34-day Second Lebanon War, Resolution 1701 calls for a demilitarized zone between the Blue Line -- the United Nations' withdrawal line for Israel -- and the Litani River, Lebanon's longest river, which runs roughly parallel to the frontier.
Despite a cease-fire that took effect on Nov. 27, 2024, Israel has continued to carry out strikes, saying they are necessary to prevent Hezbollah from reconstituting its military infrastructure.
Under the 2024 ceasefire agreement, the Lebanese army is tasked with dismantling Hezbollah's infrastructure and confiscating unauthorized weapons. In late 2025, the Lebanese government approved a five-phase roadmap aimed at establishing a state monopoly on arms.
Hezbollah leaders, including the group's secretary general, Naim Qassem, have repeatedly said they will not fully disarm as long as Israel occupies any Lebanese land, citing five strategic hilltop positions still held by Israeli forces. They argue their weapons remain a necessary deterrent. ■
