The Israeli news outlet Channel 14 reports that Hezbollah is absorbing internal criticism and suffering a reputational blow following the IDF's destruction of the group's underground tunnel complex on the Ali al-Taher ridge. The report describes the loss as an image blow to the organization.
Channel 14 reported Monday evening that Hezbollah is absorbing internal criticism and suffering a reputational blow after the IDF's destruction of its underground tunnel complex on the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon. The report, citing what the network described as Hezbollah-affiliated sources, characterized the loss of the facility as a significant image blow to the organization. The claim emerged hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed at 17:50 Jerusalem that Israeli forces had destroyed Hezbollah's "largest terror fortress" on the Beaufort and Ali Taher ridges.
As The Zioneer reported, the IDF demolished the extensive tunnel network on the ridge in a large-scale operation. The Zioneer Intelligence Desk noted on Sep 11 that video footage from the site showed sections of the mountain turned into "rock crumbs," with analysts describing the demolition as a symbolic blow to Hezbollah's image of invincibility. Earlier, in June, the IDF revealed a separate vast tunnel complex containing hundreds of drones and missiles under a Lebanese village, underscoring the scale of Hezbollah's underground infrastructure.
The Zioneer's analysis has estimated Hezbollah's current military capacity at roughly 8% of its pre-war levels, following the systematic destruction of its strategic assets including the Ali al-Taher ridge command complex, which required 1,100 tons of explosives to demolish. The group continues to conduct ceasefire violations but has been significantly degraded.
The claim of internal criticism remains attributed to Channel 14 and its sourcing. The extent and nature of any internal discord within Hezbollah ranks cannot be independently verified at this stage.
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