Israel claims control of strategic ridge in southern Lebanon

Israel says it has established operational control of the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon after an operation against Hezbollah positions and tunnels beneath the strategically important high ground.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Friday that Israeli forces had driven Hezbollah fighters from a tunnel network under the ridge, which is about 15 kilometres from the Israel-Lebanon border and rises to roughly 600 metres above sea level. Hezbollah has not formally commented on the claim.

Israel has described the ridge as part of a security or buffer zone, despite a ceasefire agreed in June. Israeli operations around the area continued after its forces gained control of nearby Beaufort Castle and other elevated positions overlooking southern Lebanon and northern Israel.

The extent of Israel’s military control over the ridge, and the condition of infrastructure there, has not been independently established. Analysts said Hezbollah’s silence could reflect several possibilities, including a limited Israeli presence, an arrangement or an exaggerated description of “operational control”.

Control of the ridge could strengthen Israel’s position in southern Lebanon and increase pressure on Lebanon’s government to confront Hezbollah, according to analysts. Rights groups have alleged that Israeli operations in southern Lebanon have deliberately destroyed civilian infrastructure and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.