Hezbollah Reasserts Control in Southern Lebanon as Pilot Project Falters

Hezbollah is reportedly returning to villages in southern Lebanon that were previously evacuated, with aid organizations linked to the group providing services to residents, while the Lebanese army struggles to maintain control. Approximately three and a half months after the IDF handed over responsibility for three locations to the Lebanese, the situation on the ground is described as grim, potentially forcing Israel to resume military operations. The pilot project, intended to facilitate the dismantling of Hezbollah infrastructure and expand Lebanese army control, appears to have failed, according to an Ynet military correspondent. Instead of a gradual reduction of Hezbollah's presence, militants are reclaiming positions and re-establishing their authority. This has led to renewed direct clashes between the IDF and Hezbollah, which had not occurred for several weeks. Political uncertainty in both Israel and the United States surrounds the project, with no high-level contacts regarding its implementation for months. Beirut has not agreed to inspections to verify the Lebanese army's efforts against Hezbollah's infrastructure, while Israel claims the Lebanese army is largely inactive, a criticism that has gone unanswered. The IDF maintains a reduced presence in southern Lebanon, conducting defensive operations and preparing for potential renewed hostilities. Hezbollah is using this period to rebuild its capabilities and conduct active reconnaissance, including the deployment of intelligence and surveillance drones. The village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyya is cited as an example where Hezbollah activity resumed after it was transferred to Lebanese army control in late July 2026. Organizations associated with Hezbollah are also constructing mobile structures in southern Lebanon, ostensibly for displaced civilians but also serving Hezbollah's infrastructure needs. The IDF assesses that Hezbollah remains dominant in the civilian sphere in southern Lebanon, with Lebanese state institutions largely absent. In some instances, Lebanese army representatives are cooperating with the Hezbollah-controlled Health Organization. The pilot project's failure is particularly concerning for Israel, as it was designed to test the Lebanese army's ability to control areas vacated by the IDF and prevent Hezbollah's resurgence, a goal that is not being met.