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Israel Claims Destruction of Hezbollah Base in Lebanon’s Ali al-Taher Ridge
Confirmed
In Short: Israeli forces reportedly destroyed Hezbollah's underground infrastructure in southern Lebanon, consolidating control over a strategic ridge amid ongoing tensions.
According to reports, the Israeli military destroyed a central command complex and weapons stores belonging to Hezbollah's Badr unit, with tremors and the sound of the explosion felt across southern Lebanon. The attack marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, with Israel claiming to have driven Hezbollah fighters out of the network of tunnels.
Lebanon's National News Agency reported heavy Israeli strikes in the area, while Israel's Channel 12 posted footage of the bombing. The US-brokered framework agreed after a June ceasefire called for Israeli forces to gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon while Lebanese troops disarm Hezbollah, but Israel has pushed into the region, seizing several strategic positions.
The Ali al-Taher ridge, about 15 km from the Israeli border, has become one of the most contested areas of the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Hezbollah has yet to respond to the recent Israeli attack.
What's confirmed
- According to reports, the Israeli military destroyed a central command complex and weapons stores belonging to Hezbollah's Badr unit, with tremors and the sound of the explosion felt across southern Lebanon. The attack marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, with Israel claiming to have driven Hezbollah fighters out of the network of tunnels.
- Lebanon's National News Agency reported heavy Israeli strikes in the area, while Israel's Channel 12 posted footage of the bombing. The US-brokered framework agreed after a June ceasefire called for Israeli forces to gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon while Lebanese troops disarm Hezbollah, but Israel has pushed into the region, seizing several strategic positions.
- The Ali al-Taher ridge, about 15 km from the Israeli border, has become one of the most contested areas of the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Hezbollah has yet to respond to the recent Israeli attack.
What's still developing
- Israeli attacks come a week after it said to have established operational control over the strategic ridge.
- The Israeli military says it has destroyed Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure at a key site in southern Lebanon, with Israeli government officials adding that the operation consolidated its so-called security zone in the area.
- In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said 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.
- Reuters reported that Hezbollah is believed to have built an underground command centre and weapons stores there in July, quoting unnamed Lebanese security sources.
- The Israeli military said its forces had established “operational control” over the ridge, both above and below ground, before dismantling the infrastructure.
- Since 2023, Israel has pushed into southern Lebanon and seized several strategic positions, occupying swathes of land, which it now increasingly says it needs to maintain a so-called buffer zone between Israel and Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.
- “The terror infrastructure and the command center on the ridge were designed to serve as the staging base for the conquest of the Galilee, and had observation and fire dominance over Metula and Kiryat Shmona. Their destruction completes the achievement of operational control over the Ali Taher ridge — above and below ground,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz in a joint statement, referring to parts of northern Israel.
- Katz had announced last week that Hezbollah fighters previously entrenched in the tunnels had been killed or fled.