Overview
- The Israeli military announced airstrikes across Lebanon and warned residents to evacuate parts of Sohmor and nearby Mashghara, saying it was targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in response to alleged ceasefire violations.
- Lebanon’s army said on January 8 it had established a state monopoly on arms south of the Litani River, but Israel contends extensive Hezbollah capabilities remain and argues the group is rearming faster than it is being disarmed.
- UNIFIL has documented more than 10,000 Israeli violations since the November 2024 truce, and reporting notes near‑daily Israeli strikes that have killed more than 300 people in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect.
- Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qmati warned that pushing disarmament beyond the south risks instability or civil war, insisting there will be no discussion north of the Litani before Israel withdraws from five positions and halts attacks.
- Diplomacy continues around a US‑backed disarmament roadmap, with Lebanon’s cabinet seeking an army briefing next month on a potential next phase as international lenders reportedly tie financial support to broader disarmament progress.