Lebanon's army says completed first phase of disarming Hezbollah

The Lebanese army announced Thursday that it had completed the first phase of its plan to disarm Hezbollah, covering the area between the Israeli border and the Litani River.

In a statement, the army said it had "achieved the objectives of the first phase" of its plan, with an intention to extend it to the rest of Lebanon.

It said it now controls the area south of the Litani River "with the exception of territory and positions still occupied by Israel" near the border.