Israeli Forces Seize Over 10,000 Hezbollah Weapons in Southern Lebanon Operations

"IDF discloses significant operations targeting Hezbollah strongholds under ceasefire terms, highlighting escalating tensions in the region."

Jerusalem [Israel], December 15: Israeli troops from the army's 91st Division have confiscated over 10,000 Hezbollah weapons and military equipment in their ongoing operations in southern Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Sunday.

According to the IDF, the division's activities over recent months have significantly disrupted Hezbollah’s capabilities. "The division’s forces have located and confiscated more than 10,000 weapons and military equipment, attacked over 1,000 Hezbollah targets, and destroyed multiple terrorist infrastructures above and below ground," the IDF stated.

The operations have primarily focused on rural areas, including Litani and Saluki, known strongholds of Hezbollah.

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Ceasefire Under Strain

The operations are taking place under the framework of a two-month ceasefire agreement initiated on November 27. Per the agreement, Hezbollah is required to withdraw its armed presence south of the Litani River, and Israeli forces are to withdraw from southern Lebanon in stages. The Lebanese Armed Forces, supported by monitors from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), are to oversee the region’s stability and enforce the ceasefire.

Despite these terms, the IDF revealed that Hezbollah had repeatedly violated the ceasefire, launching rockets and drones targeting Israeli communities in northern Israel. These attacks have displaced over 68,000 Israeli residents.

The IDF also released images and videos showcasing the weapons seized during the operations, underscoring the extent of Hezbollah’s military buildup in southern Lebanon.

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Hezbollah’s Continued Aggression

The tension follows Hamas’s deadly October 7 attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border, which killed at least 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 252 hostages. In solidarity with Hamas, Hezbollah escalated its attacks on northern Israel, maintaining a strategy of preventing displaced Israelis from returning to their homes.

Under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War, Hezbollah is prohibited from operating in southern Lebanon south of the Litani River. Despite this, the group has fortified its presence in the region over recent years, as shown by the IDF’s significant finds.