Julia McFarlane

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Julia McFarlane and at 16 hours GMT on Thursday the 8th of January, these are our main stories.

The Lebanese government says it's completed the first phase of a plan to disband armed groups in the south of the country, the traditional heartlands of Hezbollah.

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The Lebanese military says it has successfully completed the first phase of its plan to embed across the south of the country, disarming local armed groups under the control of the Shia militant organisation Hezbollah, who for decades have dominated the area, which also borders Israel.

The cabinet in Beirut had earlier taken the decision for the move, and the information minister, Paul Morkos, said further operations were planned.

The efforts follow a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah that was brokered by the United States back in 2024.

However, towns and villages across the south have continued to face heavy and regular Israeli bombardment ever since.

The Israelis say they are targeting Hezbollah military infrastructure.

The BBC's Corinne Torbay, who's in Beirut, told me what the Lebanese officials have been saying.

Karine, there has been a ceasefire agreed between Israel and Lebanon since last year, but there has continued to be Israeli operations in the south.

Has what the Lebanese army, what they've announced today, do you think that's done enough for the Israelis to maybe halt their operations?

Right.

And I mean, they're more than just an armed group, aren't they, Hezbollah?

They've been deeply embedded into Lebanon for decades.

Is it even possible for the Lebanese government to truly dismantle this organisation?

Karine Torbay in Beirut.