Overview
- Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem labeled the disarmament push an Israeli-American plan and rejected it in a televised address on December 28–29.
- Qassem said the group will not discuss disarmament until Israel withdraws remaining forces and fulfills ceasefire commitments, including halting strikes and releasing prisoners.
- Lebanese army chief Rodolphe Haykal said the force is in the process of finishing the first phase of its plan focused on areas south of the Litani River.
- Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has signaled a January 2026 campaign targeting illegal armed units north of the Litani and has requested international assistance for the army.
- News reports say Israel has continued strikes in Lebanon and kept troops in several strategic areas since the November 2024 ceasefire, a point Hezbollah cites to justify retaining its weapons.