The Israeli military announced on Thursday that it had cleared Hezbollah militants from two tunnels leading to a strategic underground fortress located beneath hills in southern Lebanon, stating it would “neutralize” the complex that it claims has long served as a base for attacks against Israel.
The ridge, known as Ali al-Taher, sits approximately six miles from the Lebanese-Israeli border. According to the Israeli military, its forces have been working to clear two underground routes in the area, with some militants killed or forced to flee during the operation.
Hezbollah and Lebanese officials have not yet responded to the allegations.
The ongoing Israeli operation risks escalating tensions with both the Lebanese government and military, which have sought to limit Hezbollah’s influence. It may also test a recent cease-fire agreement between Israel and Lebanon that Hezbollah did not participate in. Additionally, Israel’s actions could strain its relationship with the United States, which helped broker the truce, and heighten tensions with Iran.
The operation began in June, involving thousands of Israeli troops surrounding the Hezbollah stronghold and trapping dozens of militants inside, according to military statements. The mission remains active amid renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran and diminishing prospects for a diplomatic resolution between the two nations.
Iran issued a warning to the United States on Thursday through Oman — a mediator in regional dialogues — stating that Israel’s capture of the strategic ridge would cross a “red line.” Iranian officials indicated that further escalation could prompt a strong retaliatory response.
Unnamed officials reported that the area contained tunnels storing vital weaponry such as rockets and drones, as well as a key command center beneath the ridge. One source from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps claimed that between 70 and 100 Hezbollah fighters, alongside Iranian Quds Force advisors, were trapped in a tunnel near Ali al-Taher after being surrounded by Israeli forces.
That same official stated that Hezbollah had attempted to deliver supplies — food and water — to its trapped personnel via drones. However, upon retrieval, Israeli forces reportedly targeted and killed several individuals.
The official also noted that the underground complex had three exits, two of which are now under Israeli control, with the third collapse appearing imminent. While Iranian and Hezbollah priorities include recovering stored weapons, success in doing so seems increasingly unlikely under current conditions.
Some Israeli leaders have framed potential Iranian retaliation as a strategic opportunity. Defense Minister Israel Katz declared on Thursday, “An Iranian attack on Israel will free us from all constraints,” adding that Israel would target critical infrastructure and cripple Iran’s capabilities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, expressing confidence that Israel can eliminate the Iranian threat permanently and dismantle the Iranian regime.
Despite a formal cease-fire agreement with Lebanon, clashes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah continue throughout the summer. The Israeli military reaffirmed its commitment to the truce but emphasized that its troops will maintain operations within what it designates as a security buffer zone along the Lebanese border.
Hezbollah initiated cross-border fire in March in solidarity with Iran, shortly after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets in February reignited broader conflict. This resurgence follows a 2024 cease-fire that had previously reduced hostilities.
In recent negotiations with the United States, Iran conditioned any progress on halting Israeli military activity in Lebanon. As part of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed by Presidents Trump and Pezeshkian, one of the primary clauses called for an immediate cessation of “military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.” However, Israel was not involved in these discussions, and the agreement has since unraveled.
