IDF forces are tightening pressure on dozens of Hezbollah terrorists believed to be trapped inside an underground complex in southern Lebanon’s strategic Ali Taher ridge, cutting water supplies and working to prevent equipment and supplies from reaching them, Ynet reports.
The terrorists remain barricaded inside the underground infrastructure and have not yet been defeated or forced to surrender. Lebanese reports say they have attempted to bring equipment and supplies into the complex using drones, prompting Israeli forces to isolate the area and block resupply efforts.
Israeli forces are maintaining surveillance and fire control over large portions of the area. In some sections, Israel is relying on observation and the ability to strike targets rather than keeping troops physically present, allowing the IDF to use airstrikes against parts of the complex while limiting the exposure of soldiers operating on the ground.
The Ali Taher ridge is a strategically significant area near Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, overlooking portions of the border region. Israeli forces have been operating there amid continued tensions with Hezbollah despite ceasefire arrangements intended to halt fighting between Israel and the terror group.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the operation Sunday but provided few details, saying: “In recent days Israel has acted forcefully in Lebanon, eliminating terrorists, including on the Ali Taher ridge. Netanyahu said. “I can’t elaborate on it. We are in the midst of a very important operation. We are working with careful judgment and prudence.”
The operation follows an escalation in the area last month, when Hezbollah launched an explosive-laden first-person-view drone at an Israeli military engineering vehicle in southern Lebanon. The drone struck the vehicle during an Israeli patrol on the Ali Taher ridge, with no injuries reported.
Israel responded with a major operation against Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure near Beaufort Castle. The IDF said Israeli forces destroyed tunnels in the area using approximately 700 metric tons of explosives, producing a powerful blast that could be felt across the border in northern Israel. Residents in communities in the Galilee Panhandle were advised beforehand to leave their windows open over concerns that the force of the explosion could shatter glass.
The IDF has maintained only limited control over the surrounding area, with Israel’s military presence in Lebanon further complicating efforts to deal with the underground complex. Israeli officials have refrained from taking more extensive action at the site because of diplomatic sensitivities surrounding military operations in Lebanon.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
