BEIRUT: The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon said Monday that since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah it had uncovered more than 225 weapons caches in the south and referred them to the army.
The November truce largely ended more than a year of hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed group, including two months of all-out war.
Under the deal, Hezbollah was to withdraw its fighters north of Lebanon鈥檚 Litani River and Israel was to pull all its forces from south Lebanon, however it has kept troops in five areas it deems 鈥渟trategic.鈥�
The Lebanese army has been deploying in the area as Israeli forces have withdrawn and has been dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure there.
Since the November 27 truce began, 鈥減eacekeepers have found over 225 weapons caches and referred them鈥� to the Lebanese army, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon said in a statement.
UNIFIL also has a seat on the ceasefire monitoring committee, alongside truce brokers France and the United States, and the Israeli and Lebanese governments.
鈥淲ith UNIFIL support,鈥� Lebanon鈥檚 army has 鈥渞edeployed to more than 120 permanent positions south of the Litani,鈥� the peacekeeping force said.
鈥淔ull (army) deployment is hindered by the presence of Israeli forces in Lebanese territory,鈥� it added.
Israel鈥檚 military still carries out regular strikes in Lebanon, saying it is targeting Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure.
The ceasefire deal was based on a UN Security Council resolution that says Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers should be the only forces in south Lebanon, and that calls for the disarmament of all non-state groups.
President Joseph Aoun said last month the Lebanese army was now deployed in more than 85 percent of the south and that the sole obstacle to full control across the frontier area was 鈥淚srael鈥檚 occupation of five border positions.鈥�
Lebanese authorities have vowed to implement a state monopoly on bearing arms, though Aoun has said disarming Hezbollah is a 鈥渄elicate鈥� matter that requires dialogue.
Hezbollah, long a dominant force in Lebanon, was heavily weakened in its latest war with Israel.