The Lebanese Army (LAF) announced Friday that it has uncovered 177 tunnels since the launch of the “Homeland Shield” plan, an initiative aimed at ensuring the exclusive control of weapons by the state.
The army also reported that it had closed 11 crossings along the Litani River and seized 566 rocket launchers.
During a media tour in the southern Litani sector, the area’s LAF commander, Brigadier General Nicolas Tabet, said the army was presenting the details of its plan to the press “for the first time.” He stressed that no evidence has surfaced of weapons entering areas south of the Litani, adding that cooperation from local residents has been “complete.”
Tabet underscored that the LAF conducts its operations without coordination with any local political or non-state actor. “We coordinate only with the army command,” he said, emphasizing that the force has faced no obstruction from the local population in carrying out its duties.
He further noted that 10,000 soldiers are currently deployed south of the Litani despite ongoing challenges, supported by 200 army posts in the region. He added that 20 of these posts were destroyed during Israeli attacks and reported “multiple violations” along the border.
Regarding recent strikes, he stressed that the homes targeted were civilian, noting that although the army was initially not asked to inspect them, subsequent assessments confirmed that no weapons were present. He concluded that the army has encountered no impediments in carrying out its mandate, praising the supportive role of local residents, who he said “welcome the presence of the state.”
The “Homeland Shield” plan is the Lebanese Army’s multi-phase initiative aimed at restricting the possession of weapons exclusively to the state. It consists of five integrated phases, beginning with operations south of the Litani River, followed by areas south of the Awali River, designed to ensure systematic and secure implementation in a gradual geographic rollout. Tabet said the army has executed 30,001 military missions in the southern Litani area since the plan’s inception.
The plan follows a government directive issued on August 5, 2025, authorizing the army to disarm all independent militias, including Hezbollah, by the end of the year.
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