Lebanese army soldiers secure the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in the southern Lebanese village of Deir Kifa. AFP
Speaking on Friday on the occasion of Lebanon’s Independence Day, Haykal said the country is navigating a decisive and exceptionally difficult phase in its history, as Israeli forces continue to occupy areas in the south and carry out attacks that have caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure.
He noted that the army “has exerted tremendous efforts since the cessation of hostilities agreement entered into force, despite limited resources and the challenges posed by the crisis, to implement its plan, reinforce its presence south of the Litani, and extend state authority across all Lebanese territory in line with the government’s decision. This includes full adherence to Resolution 1701 in close coordination with UNIFIL and the committee supervising the ceasefire.”
The statements come as the Lebanese army, tasked by the government with disarming Hezbollah, faces mounting pressure from both Israel and the United States.
A Lebanese military source said, “We remain committed to the plan within the timeline approved by the cabinet — a timeline well known to the Americans and all concerned parties.”
However, the source added, according to AFP, that “what is being demanded today is the disarmament of Hezbollah across all of Lebanon before the end of the year — an impossible task.” He warned that “systematic US and Israeli pressure could pave the way for an escalation in attacks.”
The source also noted that the ceasefire monitoring committee — known as the Mechanism Committee — has been asking the army to conduct house-to-house searches in villages and towns in search of weapons. “But the army does not have the technical capabilities or sufficient manpower to comb such vast areas, including rugged valleys,” he said.
These tensions follow a diplomatic rift last week between the Lebanese Armed Forces and Washington, after Haykal abruptly canceled a scheduled visit to the US. The cancellation came hours before his planned departure, following the US administration’s decision to strip key political and military meetings from his agenda, according to the Lebanese source.
The move followed objections raised by some US senators, including Republican Lindsey Graham, over a Lebanese army statement that referred to Israel as the “enemy” while condemning Israeli forces for firing on UNIFIL personnel in southern Lebanon.
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