Lebanon claims progress in Hezbollah disarmament

The Lebanese military announced that it completed an important step on Thursday in creating the conditions for sustained peace between itself and Israel, while officials in Jerusalem said it was just an “encouraging” start.

“The army confirms that its plan to restrict weapons has entered an advanced stage, after achieving the goals of the first phase effectively and tangibly on the ground,” the Lebanese Armed Forces said in a statement, noting that there is more work to be done regarding efforts to safely clear unexploded ordnance and tunnels. The statement did not mention Hezbollah by name.