US General Jeffers praises Lebanese army's work on demining southern areas
Photo: US Major General Jasper Jeffers and French Brigadier General Guillaume Ponchin (x.com/CENTCOM)
American General Jasper Jeffers praised the work of the Lebanese army in demining. The military is clearing southern Lebanon, where battles took place between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah group, reports the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
On January 7, Co-Chairman of the Cessation of Hostilities Implementation Mechanism, US Major General Jasper Jeffers, and French Brigadier General Guillaume Ponchin visited the headquarters of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) 5th Brigade headquarters in southwest Lebanon. The headquarters is located five kilometers northeast of Naqoura, one of two cities from which Israeli forces were withdrawn as part of the ceasefire agreement.
It was noted that as part of the transition carried out by the Mechanism, the Lebanese army immediately deployed troops to this area to clear roads, remove unauthorized munitions, and ensure the security of the Lebanese people.
"Generals Jeffers and Ponchin viewed stockpiles of weapons to be destroyed in the coming days, which the LAF seized from unauthorized armed groups," the US Embassy in Beirut stated.
Jeffers states, "The Lebanese Armed Forces are the legitimate security provider for Lebanon and continue to demonstrate to me and the rest of the Mechanism that it has the capability, intent, and leadership to secure and defend Lebanon."
"They have acted decisively, rapidly, and with clear expertise. Today, we saw an example of this with the soldiers of the 5th Brigade. The engineer corps, in particular, is full of true professionals, removing and rendering safe hundreds of pieces of unexploded ordnance every week," Jeffers added.
Photo: Headquarters of the Fifth Brigade of the Lebanese Armed Forces (x.com/CENTCOM)
Ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah
Since the Hamas militants invaded Israel on October 7, 2023, fighters from the Lebanese group Hezbollah have regularly attacked Israeli territory with drones and rockets.
In September 2024, the IDF nearly wiped out the entire Hezbollah leadership. On September 30, Israeli forces launched a ground military operation against the group in southern Lebanon.
On November 27, a ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and Hezbollah. Under the deal, Israel is withdrawing its troops from Lebanon over 60 days, and the Lebanese Army will take control of the southern territories. This will ensure that Hezbollah does not return to these areas.
To learn more about whether the conflict between the sides has ended and what will happen next, read our article.
