Tel Aviv: Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, announced on Friday that the Israeli army has successfully seized the strategically significant Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon from Hezbollah fighters. The ridge, located approximately 10 kilometers from the Israeli border, has been a focal point of intense military activity, despite an established ceasefire. The Iran-aligned Shiite group, Hezbollah, has yet to confirm the loss of this critical highland.
According to France24.com, the Israeli military operation has driven Hezbollah fighters from tunnels beneath the ridge, which has been the site of significant conflict in the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah war. The Israeli Defence Minister highlighted that Hezbollah fighters had been concealed in these tunnels, which had made the ridge one of the most contested zones in recent times. The military's latest statement indicated that they now have operational control over the area.
Reuters reported last month that Iran had issued warnings to the United States, indicating that it would respond vigorously to any Israeli attacks on Hezbollah positions at the ridge. Despite these threats, Israel moved forward with its operations. The Israeli military has stated that some Hezbollah fighters were "eliminated," while others managed to flee during the operation.
The Ali al-Taher ridge has been a flashpoint since Hezbollah, backed by Tehran, drew Lebanon into the broader Middle East conflict in March. This escalation followed the US-Israeli operation that resulted in the killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Located near the major city of Nabatieh and the Litani River, the ridge is in close proximity to the UNESCO-listed Beaufort Castle, a site Israel captured in recent months.
The Israeli military has revealed that the tunnel network under the ridge included "command centres and weapons storage rooms," all part of an underground infrastructure developed over two decades with Iranian support. Kahwaji, head of the INEGMA military analysis institute, noted that control over the hilltops provides Israel with strategic advantages, enabling easier movement in the region.
Hezbollah's spokesman, Youssef al-Zein, speaking to journalists, including AFP, refused to disclose the number of fighters present at the Ali al-Taher position and denied the presence of Iranian personnel, contrary to some media reports. He accused Israel of overstating the ridge's military importance but asserted Hezbollah's commitment to defending it as much as possible.
The Ali al-Taher ridge is located just above the Litani River, an area where Hezbollah agreed to disarm under a 2024 ceasefire aimed at concluding its previous conflict with Israel. Israel has been expanding its military presence across southern Lebanon since launching a new campaign against Hezbollah in March, marking the ridge as part of its "security zone."