The IDF said Wednesday that troops have completed clearing Hezbollah operatives from two underground routes beneath the Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon, removing what it described as a direct terror threat to Israeli civilians and soldiers.
For weeks, forces from the IDF’s 36th Division operated in the ridge area inside the security zone, gaining operational control above and below ground, the military said. Some Hezbollah operatives were killed during the operation, while others fled, according to the IDF.
The army said it is still neutralizing the underground sites themselves. Once that work is completed, the IDF will reassess and adjust its defensive posture in the area.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the operation “huge news” for northern communities, saying the ridge “no longer threatens us.”
“We eliminated many terrorists there,” Netanyahu said. “Today it can be told: Ali al-Taher Ridge no longer threatens us.”
According to the IDF, the underground network contained command centers, weapons-storage rooms, generator rooms, living quarters, showers and a kitchen—facilities that enabled Hezbollah operatives to direct attacks and remain below ground for long periods.
The military said the strategic infrastructure had been built over two decades and was funded and planned by the Iranian regime. It said the operatives inside had carried out attacks against Israel and IDF forces, and that operations in the tunnels over recent weeks had neutralized their ability to mount further attacks from within the network.
The clearing is complete; the demolition work is not. The IDF said it will continue operating in the southern Lebanon security zone and warned that any Hezbollah attack on its troops would draw a response.
The IDF said it will continue operating in the southern Lebanon security zone and will respond to any Hezbollah attempt to attack its troops. It said it remains committed to the Lebanon ceasefire agreement.
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