IDF Criticizes Lebanese Army for Hesitating to Disarm Hezbollah in South

The IDF continues to criticize the Lebanese army's handling of the Rome understanding between Beirut and Jerusalem. A senior Israeli security official stated that the Lebanese army is avoiding direct confrontation with Hezbollah, failing to collect weapons or dismantle infrastructure as expected.

Lebanese Army Performance and Strategic Shifts

According to Israeli security sources, the Lebanese military is engaging in cosmetic measures regarding Hezbollah and leaving the heavy lifting to the IDF. The primary concern in Beirut is avoiding a return to the civil war, a fear amplified by ongoing threats from Hezbollah. However, security officials note that Hezbollah has undergone significant political and military changes since the death of Hassan Nasrallah and no longer commands absolute control over Lebanon.

"This is not the same Hezbollah from Nasrallah's era. It is not the same organization that ruled every aspect of Lebanon, and therefore the situation must be exploited," a senior official stated.

IDF Operations and Tactical Adjustments

Reports from the field indicate that some Lebanese army checkpoints allow Hezbollah operatives to move freely between villages. In response, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has designated specific zones as extermination areas, where any identified Hezbollah operatives face immediate strikes. The IDF is executing a tactical withdrawal to strategic defensive points along the Ali Taha ridge while maintaining aggressive posture against approaching hostile forces.

• IDF forces continue sweeping operations between the yellow line and the international border to locate and destroy terror infrastructure.

• Local mayors in southern Lebanon have reportedly pressured Hezbollah to remove weaponry from civilian areas to prevent Israeli strikes.

• US-mediated messages between Jerusalem and Beirut emphasize that IDF actions target terror assets threatening the Israeli home front.