The IDF fought to capture a large underground fortress (UGF) under Ali al-Taher ridge south of Nabatieh, built by Iran's IRGC starting in 2014. The site served as Hezbollah's Badr Unit headquarters, an artillery command-and-control node and weapons depot, protected by a tunnel network and anti-tank positions. The assault occurred overnight, hours before a ceasefire took effect, according to a military affairs account.
The IDF's overnight attempt to capture a large underground fortress (UGF) beneath the Ali al-Taher ridge represents the final major ground action before the ceasefire took effect. According to a military affairs account, the UGF was built by Iran's IRGC starting in 2014 and is the main area of responsibility for Hezbollah's "Badr" Unit, overseeing a major artillery command-and-control node and weapons storage site. The site is protected by a Hezbollah-built tunnel network spanning across the area, as well as anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) positions in the surrounding hills and across Nabatieh. The assault occurred overnight, hours before a ceasefire took effect, according to the report.
Israeli forces advanced substantially close to the nearest logistic exit of the site but encountered fierce resistance from Hezbollah defensive lines. This follows a series of prior engagements reported by The Zioneer on this thread: at 17:50 on Thu Jun 18, the initial reports emerged of Israeli forces advancing to capture the ridge; within the same hour, Hezbollah reported firing rockets, anti-tank missiles, and drones at advancing forces; later that hour, the IDF confirmed an engagement on the ridge with more than 10 operatives killed; and at 17:50 again, the IDF was described as fighting to complete capture of the ridge for high ground over Nabatieh. Earlier thread items from June 13-14, reported at 09:51 and 21:53 Jerusalem, documented the initial capture of the ridge and the discovery of an Iranian-funded tunnel network beneath the adjoining Beaufort Ridge.
As background, The Zioneer reported on Jun 7 that the IDF had revealed a Hezbollah terror tunnel network beneath the Beaufort Ridge, planned and funded by Iran, including living quarters and weapons storage. A subsequent report on Jun 14 noted that IDF troops had cleared that network. The Ali al-Taher ridge itself was described in a topic page as a strategic high ground seized in June 2026, overlooking Nabatieh, with underground infrastructure uncovered. The IDF's latest security zone map, published less than a day before the assault, highlighted the hills area, according to the source.
The account does not detail whether the IDF ultimately captured or secured the site, how many operatives were killed or wounded on either side, or the precise timeline relative to the ceasefire. No official IDF confirmation of the operation has yet been published.
6 developments
- StrongIDF clears Hezbollah tunnel network beneath Beaufort Ridge, advances near Nabatieh
- StrongIDF within kilometers of Nabatieh, awaits political decision on offensive depth
- DevelopingHezbollah confirms IDF ground forces at edge of Tebnit village, near Nabatieh
- StrongReports: IDF strikes Hezbollah infrastructure in Nabatieh area, southern Lebanon
Source and signal
- Internal intake