Israel says it destroyed Hezbollah base in Lebanon’s Ali al-Taher ridge

In practice, the Israeli military notes it has destroyed Hezbollah's underground infrastructure at a key site in southern Lebanon, with Israeli administration authorities adding that the operation consolidated its so-called security zone in the area.

Key points

• Since 2023, Israel has pushed into southern Lebanon and seized a number of strategic positions, occupying swathes of land.
• Katz asserted last Friday that Israeli forces had driven Hezbollah fighters out of what he stated was a network of tunnels ⁠⁠under the disputed highland.
• Reuters documented that Hezbollah is believed to have built an underground command centre and weapons stores there in July, quoting unnamed Lebanese security sources.
• Iran reportedly cautioned the United States last month that it would respond forcefully if Israeli attacks on the ridge continued.
• The process has stalled, nevertheless, with Hezbollah refusing to provide up its weapons and Israel saying it will not withdraw until the group disarms.

In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz remarked on Thursday that Israeli forces would remain in the area to prevent the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militant group from re-establishing its presence and rebuilding its capabilities.

Meanwhile, the Ali al-Taher ridge, regarding 15 km (10 miles) from the Israeli border, has become one of the most contested areas of the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Katz asserted last Friday that Israeli forces had driven Hezbollah fighters out of what he stated was a network of tunnels ⁠⁠under the disputed highland.

According to Lebanon's National News Agency, the Israeli military carried out a powerful blast at the ridge, with tremors and the sound of the explosion felt throughout Nabatieh and surrounding areas in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has yet to respond to the recent Israeli attack.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military remarked its forces had established "operational control" over the ridge, both above and below ground, before dismantling the infrastructure. As well as anti-tank missiles, mines and explosive devices, it remarked, the network extended for more than 2 km (just over 1 mile) and contained dozens of rockets, missiles and drones.

In practice, the military remarked a central command complex belonging to Hezbollah's Badr unit was located within the underground infrastructure. The complex contained command centres, weapons storage rooms and living quarters that allowed fighters to remain underground for extended periods, it remarked.

After Israel gained control of nearby Beaufort Castle and part of the higher ground overlooking much of southern Lebanon and northern Israel, over the last weeks, Israeli strikes and ground operations around the Ali al-Taher ridge continued despite a ceasefire agreed in June.

Meanwhile, a US-brokered framework agreed after a June ceasefire – between Lebanon and Israel, without negotiating with Hezbollah – pressed Israeli forces to gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon while Lebanese troops disarm Hezbollah.

Notably, the process has stalled, nevertheless, with Hezbollah refusing to provide up its weapons and Israel saying it will not withdraw until the group disarms.

Since 2023, Israel has pushed into southern Lebanon and seized a number of strategic positions, occupying swathes of land. It it now increasingly states it needs to maintain a so-called buffer zone between Israel and Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.

In short, israel says it destroyed Hezbollah base in Lebanon's Ali al is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.