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The committee responsible for overseeing the ceasefire, comprising delegates from the United States, France, Lebanon, Israel, and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), convened on Wednesday in Naqoura, southern Lebanon.

The gathering was exclusively for military personnel and did not include any civilian participants. Last month, Lebanon and Israel designated the first civilians to head their delegations within the ceasefire monitoring committee, following a request from the United States.

The gathering occurred one day before a cabinet meeting that will address the Lebanese military’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah, a initiative introduced under significant U.S. influence and due to concerns about potential broader Israeli attacks.

At Thursday’s cabinet meeting, army chief Rodolphe Haykal will update the government on the operation to disarm Hezbollah in the area south of the Litani River near the Israeli border.

Last year, the Lebanese military initiated the process of disarming Palestinian factions, with the government stating that by the end of 2025, all regions near the border with Israel — referred to as the southern Litani area — will be free from Hezbollah’s military presence.

The Lebanese government’s disarming of Hezbollah and other Palestinian organizations followed a 14-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, during which numerous members of the Iran-supported group’s political and military leadership were killed.

The most recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah started on October 8, 2023, one day after Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, with Hezbollah firing rockets into Israel in support of Hamas. In September 2024, Israel carried out a large-scale bombing campaign in Lebanon, significantly weakening Hezbollah, which was then followed by a land invasion.

The conflict concluded in November 2024 following a truce facilitated by the United States.

Israel has conducted nearly daily air strikes since that time, primarily focusing on Hezbollah fighters, while also resulting in the deaths of at least 127 civilians, as reported by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights’ office.