Lebanon · updated 1h ago · 3 min read
Israel Destroys Hezbollah Underground Infrastructure on Ali al-Taher Ridge in Southern Lebanon
Israeli forces destroyed Hezbollah underground infrastructure beneath Ali Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon. Used more than 1,000 tonnes of explosives, triggering a 4.1-magnitude tremor detected by USGS.
Why Israel says the tunnels were targeted.
6 of 8 outlets skipped it: explosions triggered a 4.1-magnitude tremor.
The Jerusalem Post was read line by line by the Watchdog: 4.5. See the score →
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Same story, two versions
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Naharnet
““Every village where a terrorist infrastructure is established and terrorists reside would be endangering itself,” Zamir said.”Read the original ↗
BBC
“This was strategic infrastructure that was constructed over two decades, funded and planned by the Iranian terror regime,”Read the original ↗
BBC and France 24 focus on the seismic impact and IDF details. Naharnet foregrounds IDF-chief rhetoric about villages facing danger.
Tunnels destroyed in Ali al-Taher
Israel said it destroyed Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure at the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, completing what it called operational control over the area both above and below ground.
“destroyed Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure at a key site in southern Lebanon”
In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said the operation would keep Israeli forces in the area to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing its presence and rebuilding its capabilities.
Lebanon’s National News Agency said the Israeli military carried out a “massive explosion” on the ridge, with tremors and the sound of the explosion felt across Nabatieh and surrounding areas in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military said the infrastructure extended for more than 2 km and contained dozens of rockets, missiles and drones, as well as anti-tank missiles, mines and explosive devices, and it said a central command complex belonging to Hezbollah’s Badr unit was located within the underground infrastructure.
Reuters reported that Hezbollah is believed to have built an underground command centre and weapons stores there in July, quoting unnamed Lebanese security sources.
Operational control disputed
A Hezbollah official told Middle East Eye that the hill would be defended “until the last man” rather than surrendered, describing Ali al-Taher as having exceptional strategic importance.
Middle East Eye also reported that the dispute over Israel’s “operational control” claim mattered because Hezbollah members denied there was any Israeli military presence on the ridge and said their fighters remained deployed and prepared to confront any attempt to advance.
Israel’s military said it had cleared Hezbollah fighters from two underground routes and established control both above and below ground, while Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz presented the move as consolidation of Israel’s security zone in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon’s National News Agency said the Israeli blast caused tremors and a powerful rumble that echoed loudly, and AFP journalists in south Lebanon said they heard “huge explosions” on Thursday evening.
France 24 reported that the US Geological Survey recorded a 4.1 magnitude tremor nearby after Lebanon reported a massive explosion on the Ali al-Taher ridge in the Nabatieh region.
Security zone and escalation risk
Israel’s army chief Eyal Zamir said any Hezbollah attack would be met with “immediate, powerful response,” warning that after the Hamas attack on October 7 it was Hezbollah that initiated and launched the war against Israel on the northern front.
“with 1,100 tons of explosives”
Zamir said Israel would not allow Hezbollah to restore its capabilities or re-establish itself in the region, adding that “The IDF (Israeli army) stands as a buffer on the front line.”
France 24 reported that Israel said the destruction of the tunnels “completes the achievement of operational control over the Ali al-Taher ridge -- above and below ground,” and it said the infrastructure was built over two decades with Iranian funding and planning.
Lebanese authorities said Israeli strikes have killed more than 4,300 people in total since March, and Israel continued to occupy a so-called “security zone” in the south, according to France 24 with AFP.
In a separate report, Naharnet said Israel blows up the Ali al-Taher tunnels with 1,100 tons of explosives, while the United States Geological Survey said the massive explosions caused a 4.1-magnitude earthquake in the area.N