Ali al-Taher Ridge became a key point of confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah
Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon has become one of the main points of confrontation between Israel and the Hezbollah group. The high ground is located about 15 km from the Israeli border and provides a view over a significant part of southeastern Lebanon, Asharq Al-Awsat reports.
Israel held this area during its 22-year occupation of southern Lebanon, which ended in 2000. After the current war began on March 2, the Israeli military advanced deeper into southern Lebanon and occupied a number of high points, including the historic Beaufort Castle on the way to Ali al-Taher. In June, the Israeli army described the ridge as one of its main operational directions and included it on a map of an expanded self-declared buffer zone where its forces operate.
Underground infrastructure
According to Lebanese security sources cited by Reuters, Hezbollah likely established an underground command center and weapons depots inside the ridge. Ali al-Taher stands about 600 meters above sea level, which analysts believe gave the group an advantage for launching short-range rockets and drones toward northern Israel.
The ridge also connects the border areas of southern Lebanon with the hilly Iqlim al-Tuffah area to the north, which Lebanese sources described as an important Hezbollah logistical and operational base. The Israeli Air Force has carried out intensive strikes on the high ground in recent months.
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In June, an Israeli military official, speaking anonymously, told Reuters that Hezbollah fighters were trapped underground without food and water. The Times of Israel, citing a military investigation, reported that one Israeli serviceman was killed and another 13 were wounded on June 20 during an operation to seize a large Hezbollah underground facility. The group, for its part, said it controlled the area and was ready to counter attempts by Israeli forces to advance or infiltrate.
Negotiating deadlock
Ali al-Taher is located near the settlement of Zawtar al-Gharbiya, which Israeli forces left in July under a roadmap agreed through US mediation. It envisaged the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon as Lebanese forces disarmed Hezbollah.
Implementation of the agreements has stalled: Hezbollah refuses to lay down its weapons, while Israel says it will not withdraw its troops until the group is disarmed. Andrea Tenenti, a former spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, believes that capturing Ali al-Taher could be an important achievement for the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of elections scheduled for October. Lebanese analyst and retired general Hassan Jouni told Reuters that Israel may avoid an assault because of the risk of casualties among its troops.
