The IDF's 36th Division has completed clearing two Hezbollah underground routes beneath the strategic Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon, establishing full operational control above and below ground, the military said Thursday evening. Some Hezbollah operatives were eliminated and others fled, while the cleared network is being prepared for demolition. Inside the Iranian-funded fortress, troops found command centers, weapons rooms, living quarters, and a kitchen—built over two decades as a nerve center for attacks toward northern Israel.
The IDF announced Thursday evening that the 36th Division has completed clearing two Hezbollah underground routes beneath the strategic Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon, establishing full operational control above and below ground. The military said some Hezbollah operatives were eliminated and others fled, while the cleared network is being prepared for demolition.
As The Zioneer reported earlier this evening (Thu 20:34 Jerusalem), the IDF revealed the interior of the tunnel complex, including command centers, weapons rooms, living quarters, and a kitchen built with Iranian funding. The clearing of these two routes follows earlier operations on the ridge: On June 25, the IDF confirmed it had eliminated Hezbollah operatives and trapped dozens in the underground network (The Zioneer, June 25). In late July, the IDF completed destruction of a separate Iranian-funded tunnel network under the nearby Beaufort Ridge (The Zioneer, July 31). The Ali Taher complex is a strategic nerve center for Hezbollah's southern Lebanon operations.
The ridge overlooks critical routes around Nabatieh and connects to Hezbollah's longtime Iqlim al-Tuffah stronghold, affording the terror group an advantage for launching short-range missiles and drones toward northern Israel. The IDF described the facility as an extensive network built over two decades with Iranian funding and planning, designed to allow Hezbollah to command attacks and remain underground for prolonged combat.
The IDF said it will reassess its defensive deployment in the area once the demolition is complete. The clearing of these two routes brings the military closer to fully neutralizing the ridge's underground infrastructure, but additional tunnel segments may remain unaddressed.
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