The IDF continues to tighten its control over southern Lebanon’s security zone, eliminating a Hezbollah operative who was identified operating near one of the terror organization’s underground tunnel shafts at the strategically important Ali Taher ridge.
According to the military, Israeli forces monitoring the area spotted the operative moving near one of the entrances to Hezbollah’s extensive subterranean complex hidden beneath the ridge, located near Nabatieh. Shortly afterward, the Israeli Air Force carried out a precise strike, killing the terrorist before he could disappear back into the underground network.
The Ali Taher ridge has become one of Hezbollah’s most significant remaining strongholds inside Israel’s buffer zone. Israeli military assessments indicate that the massive underground complex still houses dozens of Hezbollah operatives who remain concealed beneath the mountain. The network of tunnels is believed to include command positions, storage areas, and protected movement corridors designed to shield terrorists from aerial surveillance and attack.
The IDF made clear that its mission at the ridge is far from over. Military officials emphasized that Israeli forces will not allow Hezbollah operatives to emerge from the tunnel network or maneuver anywhere in the area, underscoring Israel’s determination to deny the terrorist organization any opportunity to reestablish a military presence along the border.
In a separate operation on the same day, Israeli forces also eliminated a suspect traveling in a vehicle inside the buffer zone after determining that he posed an immediate threat to troops operating in the area.
These operations highlight Israel’s continued strategy of maintaining proactive control over key terrain in southern Lebanon rather than allowing Hezbollah to quietly rebuild its military infrastructure. By relentlessly targeting terrorist activity above and below ground, the IDF is working to ensure that southern Lebanon cannot once again become a launchpad for future attacks against Israeli communities.