Published September 3rd, 2026 - 20:42 GMT
Highlights
The ridge has emerged as one of the most strategically important flashpoints in southern Lebanon. Located about 15 kilometers from the Israeli border and rising to roughly 600 meters
ALBAWABA- Israel said Thursday that its forces had completed the clearing of Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure beneath the strategic Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon, as tensions with the Iran-backed group intensified despite a ceasefire and amid a wider confrontation involving Iran.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said troops from its 36th Division had recently gained operational control of the ridge both above and below ground and cleared two underground routes of Hezbollah fighters. The military said some fighters were killed while others fled the area. It said the operation to neutralize the underground facilities was still underway. According to the IDF, the network was built over roughly two decades and was planned and financed by Iran. The military said it contained command centers, weapons rooms, generator facilities, living quarters, showers and a kitchen, allowing Hezbollah fighters to remain underground and conduct military operations for extended periods. Israel said fighters operating from the network had carried out attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers. The Israeli military said the operation had effectively neutralized Hezbollah’s ability to launch attacks against Israel from the underground routes. It said forces would continue working to destroy the infrastructure before establishing what it described as a renewed defensive posture based on the security situation. The development followed a sharp escalation around the ridge in recent days.⭕️‼️The IDF completed the clearing of Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area & is operating to neutralize it.The terrorists who were present inside the infrastructure carried out terror attacks against Israel & IDF soldiers and were eliminated or…— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 3, 2026 Israel said Hezbollah launched two explosive drones toward Israeli forces operating near the Ali al-Taher area on Wednesday. Israel intercepted the drones and subsequently carried out strikes against Hezbollah targets in the Nabatieh area. No Israeli military casualties were reported from the drone attack. The ridge has emerged as one of the most strategically important flashpoints in southern Lebanon. Located about 15 kilometers from the Israeli border and rising to roughly 600 meters, it provides commanding views over parts of southern Lebanon and key routes toward the Iqlim al-Tuffah region. Israeli forces have incorporated the area into a security zone established during the current conflict. The latest Israeli operation also came against the backdrop of a reported Iranian warning to Washington. According to Reuters, Iran conveyed through Oman in mid-August that it would launch a major retaliatory attack if Israel carried out a full-scale offensive against the Ali al-Taher Ridge. Israel, however, has disputed the presence of Iranian forces at the ridge. The Iranian warning nevertheless highlights the potential for fighting over the strategic position to widen beyond the Israel-Hezbollah confrontation and draw Iran directly into another escalation with Israel and the United States. The Ali al-Taher operation is part of a broader dispute over the future security arrangement in southern Lebanon. A U.S.-mediated framework has sought to combine an Israeli withdrawal with the deployment of the Lebanese Army and the disarmament of Hezbollah. Progress has stalled, however, amid disagreements over Hezbollah’s weapons and Israel’s continued military presence in parts of southern Lebanon. Israel has continued to carry out strikes against Hezbollah targets despite the ceasefire, arguing that its military operations are necessary to prevent the group from rebuilding its military infrastructure. Hezbollah, meanwhile, has warned that significant Israeli military action in southern Lebanon could trigger a broader confrontation.
