By Dana Polak
On January 26, it will be 60 days since the signing of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, but its full implementation remains uncertain.
The agreement stipulates that only the Lebanese security forces and the Lebanese Army can carry weapons or operate their forces in southern Lebanon.
In addition, they must take steps to dismantle all weapons and terrorist infrastructure that Hezbollah has established in the area south of the Litani.
The most important test of the agreement will be the activity of the Lebanese Army in the areas south of the Litani, where the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not conduct any maneuvers on the ground and where a large amount of Hezbollah weapons and terrorist infrastructure remain unaddressed.
The limited IDF ground maneuver in southern Lebanon exposed us to the massive weapons arsenals Hezbollah has amassed over the years, along with the terrorist infrastructures aimed at executing its plan to invade and massacre the inhabitants of northern Israel.
An exhibition of weapons seized by the IDF showcased some of these huge arsenals of weapons, which Israel confiscated during the ground maneuver in Lebanon.See our article on the subject).
According to data from the IDF Spokesperson's Office, during the ground maneuver, the IDF seized around 6.840 rocket launchers and anti-tank launchers (including rockets and missiles), 9.000 explosive devices, 2.700 assault rifles and other weapons, 300 observation devices, 60 anti-aircraft missiles, 20 vehicles, around 2.000 shells and rockets, and tens of thousands of other means of communication, computers and technical systems.
This huge amount of weapons was seized in limited and specific areas that the IDF reached during the ground maneuver.
However, large areas south of the Litani River remained off-limits to IDF ground operations, and there are still extensive terrorist infrastructures and significant Hezbollah weapons stockpiles in those locations.
The dismantling of these infrastructures, as part of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, requires an intensive effort by the Lebanese Army, which at this stage does not show a high level of capacity and motivation to act against Hezbollah.
Furthermore, the Lebanese Army has yet to fulfill its mission under Resolution 1701, under which Hezbollah has managed to establish these terrorist infrastructures without any interference or effective resistance from the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Although the IDF is not physically present in most areas south of the Litani River, especially after its withdrawal from several villages over the past month, it continues to operate in those areas through precision airstrikes.
These strikes are aimed at disrupting terrorist infrastructure and targeting Hezbollah terrorists, while adhering to the terms of the ceasefire.
Notable examples of this were recorded in January 2025: On January 2, the IDF carried out an airstrike in Nabatiyeh against rocket launchers.
The attack was carried out after the IDF alerted the Lebanese Army about its presence and requested its neutralization, but the latter took no action.
On January 10 and 11, Hezbollah operatives loaded weapons onto a vehicle in Tir Daba and Kounine.
On January 12, the IDF attacked rocket launching sites and another military site in the Nabatiyeh region.
These actions illustrate the continued fight against Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure, including in areas that remain outside the deployment and presence of IDF forces in southern Lebanon.
Neutralizing Hezbollah's weapons stockpiles and terrorist infrastructure in the areas south of the Litani River is not only an obligation under the ceasefire agreement, but also constitutes a central test that will attest to the seriousness of the implementation and the ability to maintain regional stability.
These areas, where the IDF was neither physically present nor operating on the ground, remain fertile ground for Hezbollah terrorist activity.
The Lebanese Army is now responsible for managing these structures, dismantling them and preventing the rehabilitation and strengthening of Hezbollah's military infrastructure.