A matter of time
Zvi Yehezkeli: Lebanese Army Has Not Disarmed Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon
There is more and more chatter about an impending IDF op in Lebanon, to deal with Hezbollah's re-arming and rebuilding itself after the ingenious deadly beeper operations. This fits in with Yehezekli's analysis, that Hezbollah has not been disarmed.
Amid ongoing efforts under a U.S.-backed ceasefire to enforce Hezbollah's disarmament south of the Litani River, prominent Israeli Arab affairs analyst Zvi Yehezkeli has expressed deep skepticism, arguing that claims of the group's demilitarization without conflict are "very hard to believe."
Yehezkeli, a veteran commentator for Channel 13 News, highlighted that the Lebanese army and government are attempting to project an image of control, asserting they are dismantling Hezbollah and functioning as a normal state. facebook.com However, he contended that this is largely a facade for those familiar with Lebanon and the organization.
"Hezbollah doesn't just reside in weapon warehouses and launchers," Yehezkeli stated. "It resides in people, villages, families, and consciousness. It is part of the southern Lebanon fabric. Even if they evacuated this or that warehouse, the organization itself remains alive, breathing, and operating."
He pointed out that beyond the Litani River, within Lebanon proper, Hezbollah continues to maintain military capabilities, including missiles capable of reaching Israel.
Yehezkeli warned that anyone believing the area south of the Litani is truly free of weapons, infrastructure, and operational intentions likely misunderstands the Middle East dynamics, describing the doubt as "enormous."
According to Yehezkeli, the Lebanese government's actions are driven by a desire to appease U.S. President Donald Trump and Western powers while averting war.
In Beirut, officials recognize an impending confrontation with Israel, as Jerusalem cannot tolerate Hezbollah's continued rearmament. As a result, they hastily declare the area dismantled, cleaned, and claimed to deal with the Hebzollah situation.
Yet, Yehezkeli emphasized that in the Middle East, reality is gauged by capabilities, intentions, and on-the-ground facts, not declarations. Based on all indications, he concluded, Hezbollah is far from being disarmed.
This commentary comes as reports indicate Hezbollah has infiltrated the Lebanese army, disrupted monitoring of its disarmament, and is rebuilding its arsenal, including drones, under the ceasefire cover.
The ceasefire, implemented in late 2024, mandated Hezbollah's withdrawal and disarmament south of the Litani by the end of 2025, but the group has vowed to retain its weapons. Israeli forces have continued targeted strikes against Hezbollah figures involved in rearmament efforts.