Lebanon's plans to bring all weapons under state control remain on track, government officials told The National after it emerged that a new US defence bill would make support for the Lebanese army conditional on progress in disarming Hezbollah.
The officials did not comment directly on the US bill, but insisted that the Lebanese Armed Forces were close to completing the first phase of the arms control plan, which entails disarming the Iran-backed group in the southernmost areas bordering Israel.
“The LAF are nearing completion of the first phase of the deployment plan to ensure the exclusive authority over arms south of the Litani River, an achievement that was positively received by the cabinet,” one government official said.
“The second phase, covering the area between the Litani and the Awali rivers, is expected to begin after New Year,” they said.
According to the final text of this year's National Defence Authorisation Act released by US legislators this week, Washington's military assistance to Le
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