A satellite image shows damage at the Ali al-Taher ridge near Nabatiah, Lebanon, March 8, 2026. 2026 Planet Labs PBC/Handout via REUTERS
Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published September 4, 2026
JERUSALEM — September 4, 2026 — Israel says its military has cleared Hezbollah fighters from underground tunnels beneath the strategically important Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, marking a significant development in the ongoing confrontation between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Friday that Israeli forces had completed the operation at the ridge, which has become one of the most fiercely contested areas in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict despite a ceasefire announced in June.
According to the Israeli military, Hezbollah fighters had been operating from underground infrastructure beneath the ridge. Israeli forces reportedly killed some of the militants while others fled the area. Hezbollah had not immediately issued a response to Israel’s announcement.
Strategic high ground
The Ali al-Taher ridge holds significant military value because of its elevated position and its view over a wide section of southern Lebanon.
Reuters reports that the ridge is approximately 15 kilometers from the Israeli border and has been identified as a key operational area in the conflict. Its elevation provides Hezbollah with a potential vantage point for launching attacks toward northern Israel and connecting positions deeper inside southern Lebanon.
Israeli forces have maintained that Hezbollah established extensive underground infrastructure in the area, including command facilities and weapons storage sites.
The Israeli military says the underground positions were developed over many years. Israeli officials have described the tunnels as part of Hezbollah’s broader military infrastructure designed to support attacks against Israel.
Israel says operation lasted months
The operation was not a single overnight raid. Israeli forces had been conducting military activity around the ridge for months, with the area emerging as a major flashpoint following renewed fighting.
Israel’s military announced Thursday that it had cleared two Hezbollah underground infrastructures on the ridge and was working to neutralize the remaining facilities. The announcement was followed Friday by the Israeli defense minister’s declaration that Hezbollah fighters had been cleared from the tunnels.
The development comes despite the June ceasefire, which was intended to reduce hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Fighting and military activity have nevertheless continued in southern Lebanon.
Iran had warned against an Israeli assault
The operation also carries wider regional implications.
Reuters reported earlier this week that Iran had warned the United States that it would respond forcefully if Israel launched a major assault against Hezbollah positions at Ali al-Taher. The warning was reportedly transmitted through Oman, which has served as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.
The Iranian warning illustrates the strategic importance of the ridge beyond the immediate Israel-Hezbollah confrontation.
Hezbollah is backed by Iran, and Tehran has repeatedly signaled that major Israeli operations against its Lebanese ally could trigger a broader response.
Israel, meanwhile, has maintained that its military presence in parts of southern Lebanon is necessary to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military infrastructure and threatening communities in northern Israel.
Hezbollah has yet to confirm the loss
While Israel has declared the operation a success, there has been no immediate independent confirmation of the military’s full account.
Hezbollah had not publicly commented on the Israeli announcement at the time of reporting. That leaves questions surrounding the number of fighters remaining in the area, the extent of damage to the underground network and whether Hezbollah will attempt to re-establish a presence there.
The ridge’s strategic importance means the area could remain a potential flashpoint even after Israel’s latest operation.
A broader struggle over southern Lebanon
The battle for Ali al-Taher is part of a larger dispute over the future security arrangement in southern Lebanon.
Israel has insisted that Hezbollah must be disarmed before it can consider withdrawing from positions it currently controls. Lebanon and international mediators have been seeking a framework that would transfer security responsibilities to the Lebanese state.
The dispute has complicated U.S.-mediated negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, with Hezbollah opposing demands for its complete disarmament.
The situation is further complicated by Iran’s continued backing of Hezbollah and its warnings against an Israeli military expansion in southern Lebanon.
🧩 Bottom Line:
Israel’s reported clearance of Hezbollah fighters from the tunnels beneath Ali al-Taher gives the Israeli military control over a strategically valuable position overlooking large areas of southern Lebanon.
But the operation also demonstrates how fragile the existing ceasefire remains. With Hezbollah’s response still pending and Iran having previously warned against a major Israeli assault on the ridge, the latest Israeli advance could either strengthen negotiations over southern Lebanon—or become another trigger for a wider regional escalation.
SOURCES: REUTERS – Israel says it has cleared Hezbollah fighters from tunnels under key Lebanon ridge
DAWN – Israel claims it has cleared Hezbollah fighters from tunnels under key Lebanon ridge
INTERNATIONALE – Israel says it has cleared Hezbollah fighters from tunnels under key Lebanon ridge
