The Lebanese army says it is under intensifying US and Israeli pressure to accelerate disarmament of Hezbollah, and its new army chief canceled a Washington trip after high-level meetings were called off. The army has deployed roughly 9,000 troops to the south and is expected to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure south of the Litani River by year-end — a timeline officials call unrealistic. UNIFIL reports thousands of air and ground violations since the ceasefire, and 12 soldiers have been killed during weapons-removal operations. Observers warn full disarmament is unlikely without significant international support and a careful diplomatic approach.
US and Israel Step Up Pressure on Lebanese Army to Disarm Hezbollah — Washington Visit Canceled
The Lebanese army says it is under intensifying US and Israeli pressure to accelerate disarmament of Hezbollah, and its new army chief canceled a Washington trip after high-level meetings were called off. The army has deployed roughly 9,000 troops to the south and is expected to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure south of the Litani River by year-end — a timeline officials call unrealistic. UNIFIL reports thousands of air and ground violations since the ceasefire, and 12 soldiers have been killed during weapons-removal operations. Observers warn full disarmament is unlikely without significant international support and a careful diplomatic approach.
12:41 AM, 11/21/2025Conflict
The Lebanese army says it is facing growing pressure from the United States and Israel to accelerate efforts to disarm Hezbollah, a senior military official said. The army's newly appointed chief canceled a planned visit to Washington after high-level US meetings were abruptly called off, highlighting rising diplomatic tensions over the disarmament timeline.
Timeline and Deployment
Under a government-approved plan, the army is expected to dismantle Hezbollah's military infrastructure south of the Litani River — about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Israeli border — by the end of the year, before addressing other areas of the country. Since the ceasefire last November, the Lebanese army has significantly increased its presence on the southern frontier, deploying about 9,000 soldiers to the region.
Pressure, Practical Limits and Risks
A senior military source, speaking on condition of anonymity because the subject is sensitive, said the army "respects the timeline approved by the government and which the United States and other concerned parties are aware of." At the same time, the official warned that "systematic US and Israeli pressure could pave the way for an escalation of Israeli strikes," and described the demand to disarm Hezbollah across all of Lebanon by year-end as "impossible."
"The Lebanese army is being asked to do what the Israeli military could not accomplish with its missiles, aircraft and technology," the official said, referring to calls for house-to-house searches for weapons and underground tunnels.
Lebanon's armed forces number roughly 80,000 personnel and rely heavily on foreign assistance. The army argues it lacks the specialised equipment, personnel and intelligence capabilities required for exhaustive searches in densely populated southern communities, and is also wary of triggering civil unrest in Hezbollah strongholds.
Casualties, Monitoring and Reactions
Operations to remove weapons caches have already proved costly: the army reports 12 soldiers killed in recent months during such missions. The UN peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL) has recorded thousands of violations since the November truce, citing more than 7,500 air violations, nearly 2,500 ground violations north of the Blue Line, and 360 weapons caches referred to the Lebanese army.
International monitoring of the ceasefire is conducted by a committee that includes the United States, France, Lebanon, Israel and UNIFIL. Some US and Israeli officials say the verification mechanism is not moving fast enough in critical areas. An Israeli military source has warned that Hezbollah still retains long-range missiles and may have kept 20–30% of its strike capability after the war.
Political Fallout
The canceled Washington trip — called off after US political and military meetings were canceled hours before departure — has added a diplomatic dimension to the security pressure. Some US lawmakers have publicly criticized Lebanon's efforts as insufficient, while Lebanese officials stress the army's constrained resources and the political sensitivity of operations in Hezbollah-dominated areas.
A Western military source expressed scepticism that full disarmament of Hezbollah is realistic in the near term, and warned that broader geopolitical dynamics could shape any future options.
Outlook
The Lebanese government and army face a difficult balancing act: meeting international demands to limit Hezbollah's military capabilities while avoiding escalation and preserving internal stability. The outcome will depend on whether international support — including promised donor assistance and technical help — materialises and on how diplomatic pressure is managed in the coming months.