Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced on Friday that Israeli forces had secured operational control of the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon following an extended military campaign targeting Hezbollah positions. The ridge, located approximately 15 kilometers from the border and rising 600 metres above sea level, contains a network of tunnels that Israeli forces reportedly cleared of Hezbollah fighters. Katz stated that the capture represents progress toward Israel’s stated objective of disarming Hezbollah throughout Lebanon and eliminating threats to residents of the Galilee region.
Hezbollah has not formally responded to the Israeli claims, though Iran had previously warned the United States that it would respond forcefully if Israeli operations on the ridge continued. The military engagement follows an extended conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that has escalated multiple times since October 2023, with significant increases in September 2024 and March of this year. Israel has established what it describes as a security or buffer zone in southern Lebanon, which international rights groups contend involves deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure and has displaced hundreds of thousands of Lebanese residents.
Military operations around the Ali al-Taher ridge have continued despite a ceasefire agreement reached in June, which followed Israel’s seizure of Beaufort Castle and surrounding high ground. Analysts attribute Israeli military success partly to technological advantages but also to the absence of constraints on operations in Lebanese towns and villages. Security experts note that the occupation serves multiple purposes: protecting Israeli citizens in the north, applying diplomatic pressure on the Lebanese government, and potentially strengthening Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political position ahead of elections later this year.
Observers express uncertainty regarding the true extent and implications of Israeli control over the ridge. Some analysts suggest that Hezbollah’s muted response may indicate either a negotiated arrangement or Israeli exaggeration of its operational control. The situation raises questions about Iran’s role in decision-making for Hezbollah and whether Tehran will respond militarily, a development that Netanyahu has characterized as potentially beneficial to his electoral prospects given current polling predictions of electoral defeat.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI