Israel Announces Destruction of Hezbollah Underground Facility on Ali al‑Taher Ridge

Israeli attacks occurred a week after the military declared operational control of the strategic ridge.

Published on 10 September 202610 September 2026

The Israeli military announced that it has demolished Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure at a key site in southern Lebanon, and officials stated the operation has solidified its so‑called security zone in the region.

In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that Israeli forces would stay in the area to prevent the Iran‑aligned Hezbollah militant group from re‑establishing its presence and rebuilding its capabilities.

The Ali al‑Taher ridge, located roughly 15 km (10 miles) from the Israeli border, has emerged as one of the war’s most contested zones between Israel and Hezbollah. Katz asserted last Friday that Israeli forces had expelled Hezbollah fighters from a network of tunnels beneath the contested highland.

Reuters reported that Hezbollah is thought to have constructed an underground command centre and weapons depots at the site in July, according to unnamed Lebanese security sources.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that the Israeli military carried out a powerful blast at the ridge, with tremors and the sound of the explosion felt across Nabatieh and surrounding areas in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah has not yet responded to the recent Israeli attack.

The Israeli military said its forces had secured “operational control” of the ridge, both above and below ground, before dismantling the infrastructure. The network spanned more than 2 km (just over 1 mile) and contained dozens of rockets, missiles, drones, anti‑tank missiles, mines and explosive devices, it said.

The military said a central command complex belonging to Hezbollah’s Badr unit was situated within the underground infrastructure. The complex housed command centres, weapons storage rooms and living quarters, enabling fighters to remain underground for extended periods, it said.

Iran reportedly warned the United States last month that it would respond forcefully if Israeli attacks on the ridge continued.

Over the past weeks, Israeli strikes and ground operations around the Ali al‑Taher ridge have continued despite a June ceasefire, following Israel’s capture of nearby Beaufort Castle and part of the higher ground overlooking much of southern Lebanon and northern Israel.

A US‑brokered framework agreed after the June ceasefire — between Lebanon and Israel, without negotiating with Hezbollah — calls for Israeli forces to gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon while Lebanese troops disarm Hezbollah.

The process has stalled, however, as Hezbollah refuses to relinquish its weapons and Israel says it will not withdraw until the group disarms.

Since 2023, Israel has pushed into southern Lebanon, seizing several strategic positions and occupying swathes of land, which it increasingly says are needed to maintain a so‑called buffer zone between Israel and Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.

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