France welcomes Lebanon progress in disarming Hezbollah

France has welcomed Lebanon's announcement that the first phase of the army's plan to disarm Hezbollah in south Lebanon has been completed.

On Thursday, after the army leadership briefed the cabinet on progress on the disarmament plan, Information Minister Paul Morcos said the government emphasized the need to continue implementing the plan "as quickly as possible".

He said a plan for the disarmament north of the Litani is to be presented to cabinet in February.

"This step marks a significant step in the restoration of the sovereignty of the Lebanese State over its entire territory and shows the Lebanese authorities' compliance with the commitments made," the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

France urged the Lebanese authorities to move to the second phase of the plan and called on Israel to exercise restraint and refrain from any action that could lead to an escalation.

Lebanon's army had said it had "achieved the objectives of the first phase" of its plan, covering the area south of the Litani River with the intention to extend it to the rest of the country.

In a statement, it noted "the exception of territory and positions still occupied by Israel" near the border.

Under heavy U.S. pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Lebanon has committed to disarming Hezbollah, which was badly weakened after more than a year of hostilities including two months of all-out war that ended with a November 2024 ceasefire.

Despite the truce, Israel has kept up regular strikes in Lebanon, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives, and has maintained troops in five south Lebanon areas it deems "strategic", accusing the group of rearming.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Thursday in response to the Lebanese army statement that the ceasefire "states clearly, Hezbollah must be fully disarmed" and that the efforts by the Lebanese government and the Lebanese armed forces are "an encouraging beginning, but they are far from sufficient."

The French foreign ministry reaffirmed in its statement France's constant support for the Lebanese Armed Forces and its willingness to organize an international conference in support of the Lebanese army.

The second phase of the army's plan is to cover the rest of the country's south up to the Awali river, near Sidon.

President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri expressed Thursday their "full support" for the army's announcement, with Aoun urging the international community to assist Lebanon in implementing the ceasefire deal and hasten support for the Lebanese army.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon, said on X that the army's announcement was "undeniable progress".