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Ali al-Taher cleared
Israeli forces said on Thursday they completed the clearance of two Hezbollah underground infrastructures on the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon and were working to neutralize them, after operating with forces from the IDF’s 36th Division in recent weeks.
“completed the clearance of two Hezbollah underground infrastructures”
The Jerusalem Post reported the IDF said the infrastructures were built over a period of about two decades and were planned and funded by Iran, and that the complex included command rooms, weapons storage rooms, generators, living quarters, showers, and a kitchen.
Reuters reported that Iran warned the United States it would respond forcefully to an Israeli offensive on the mountainous ridge where Iranian military personnel are holed up alongside Hezbollah fighters, with three officials briefing Reuters on the message.
The IDF said Hezbollah operatives were cleared from the sites, with some killed and others fleeing, and that the ability to carry out additional attacks from the sites was neutralized while efforts to neutralize the tunnels were ongoing.
Threats, drones, and control
In the lead-up to the clearance, Reuters said Iran’s message to Washington was delivered last month via Oman and that it highlighted Iran’s continued direct involvement in the ground fighting in southern Lebanon and its readiness to retaliate against Israeli attacks there.
Hezbollah’s media office told Reuters that “Iran considers any Israeli move on the ground in southern Lebanon, especially territorial expansion, a major violation of the Islamabad Agreement,” referring to the June U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding that included a Lebanon ceasefire.
The Jerusalem Post said the IDF achieved operational control of the ridge both above and below ground and described a months-long operation that included mapping, destroying tunnels and concealed openings, and cutting off a logistical route used to transfer food, water, and ammunition from Beirut.
It also said Hezbollah attacked the forces several times using drones during the battle over the tunnel entrances, and that the IDF said it would redeploy for defensive operations once neutralization was completed.
What comes next
The IDF said it remains committed to the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon while continuing operations in southern Lebanon, and it warned that “Any attempt by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to act against IDF troops will be met with force.”
“Any attempt by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to act against IDF troops will be met with force.”
ynetglobal | Israeli quoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying, “Today we can already say it: We eliminated a great many terrorists there,” as it described the clearing of underground infrastructure on the Ali Taher ridge and continued efforts to neutralize facilities into the evening.
Reuters said Hezbollah has said its officials refer to a “facility” there but declined to provide details, and it reported that Hezbollah said any large-scale attack on Ali al-Taher would mean a return to full-blown war and could see missiles landing on northern Israeli communities.
In parallel, Naharnet reported that Israel’s military said it had taken “operational control” of the strategic Ali Taher ridge area, where Hezbollah is believed to have an extensive underground military facility, and that troops cleared Hezbollah fighters from two underground routes while operations were ongoing.