Military officials cite ongoing launches from southern Lebanon as evidence Hezbollah remains active despite disarmament assurances
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Israeli military officials say thousands of rockets have been launched from southern Lebanon in recent weeks, including from areas previously described by Lebanese authorities as cleared of Hezbollah weapons, raising new concerns about enforcement of disarmament commitments.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, approximately 3,000 projectiles have been fired since early March from territory south of the Litani River, a region Lebanese officials had earlier indicated was free of Hezbollah armaments, according to a report.
Israeli military spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee said those assurances have not held. “Today, it is clear that this announcement was nothing but an outright lie,” Adraee said, referring to prior statements about disarmament.
The IDF described the continued attacks as “the strongest evidence” that efforts to dismantle Hezbollah’s military presence in southern Lebanon have not been successful, and it accused the Lebanese Army of failing to prevent the group from maintaining and using weapons systems near Israel’s border.
Israeli forces operating in the area reported additional findings, including the discovery and destruction of a rocket launcher that had been prepared for use against Israel, in a separate report. Troops also located a tunnel shaft and seized weapons such as anti-tank missiles during operations targeting Hezbollah positions.
The developments come amid continued cross-border exchanges. Israeli officials said a missile launched by Hezbollah triggered air-raid sirens extending to central regions, including areas near Tel Aviv, though it was intercepted by defense systems. Hezbollah has stated it targeted military infrastructure in Haifa.
The escalation follows recent Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah positions, which reports indicate resulted in significant casualties and displacement. In response, Hezbollah has continued to launch rockets and deploy drones toward Israeli territory.
Benjamin Netanyahu has said that any future negotiations involving Lebanon would require Hezbollah’s disarmament, a condition that has been part of longstanding international discussions.
The latest developments have renewed focus on the ability of Lebanese authorities to enforce restrictions on armed groups in the south and on the broader challenge of limiting the operational capacity of Iran-backed organizations in the region.
As hostilities continue, officials say the situation remains fluid, with ongoing military activity and diplomatic efforts unfolding in parallel.
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