Defense Minister Israel Katz said Sunday evening that the Ali Taher ridge is part of Israel's 'Yellow Line' and its 700-square-kilometer security zone in southern Lebanon. Katz stated the IDF is preparing operationally to control the ridge and prevent Hezbollah from returning, warning: 'Anyone who approaches the ridge will be destroyed.' He reiterated that Israel will not withdraw until Hezbollah is disarmed across all of Lebanon.
Earlier this evening, Defense Minister Israel Katz specified that the Ali Taher ridge is part of the "Yellow Line" and that Israel's security zone in southern Lebanon measures 700 square kilometers — extending from the coast to Beaufort Castle and the Hermon area. Katz stated that the IDF is preparing operationally to take control of the ridge and prevent Hezbollah from returning, warning: "Anyone who approaches the ridge will be destroyed." This expands on his earlier remarks at approximately 21:25 Jerusalem time, when he said the IDF is preparing operational control of the ridge.
The latest statement is part of a sequence of developments on the Ali Taher ridge. The IDF first captured the strategic ridge on August 12 at 20:20 Jerusalem, as The Zioneer reported. After destroying Hezbollah's underground tunnel network, the military prepared on September 6 to reduce forces and draw a new security line closer to the border (The Zioneer, Sep 6, 00:06 Jerusalem). However, Hezbollah's continued activity and repeated ceasefire violations kept the IDF on high alert, as reported on July 31 (The Zioneer, Jul 31, 00:15 Jerusalem). Defense Minister Katz had emphasized on June 15 that the IDF will stay in security zones indefinitely (The Zioneer, Jun 15, 12:50 Jerusalem), and after four soldiers were killed in a Hezbollah tank ambush on June 19, he vowed a decisive response (The Zioneer, Jun 19, 12:30 Jerusalem). The evolving official statements reflect a consistent policy: the security zone will be held until Hezbollah is disarmed across all of Lebanon.
The Ali Taher ridge contains one of Hezbollah's most significant underground command centers, built with Iranian assistance, as The Zioneer reported on June 20 (19:38 Jerusalem). The IDF's ground presence is required because the fortifications are largely resilient to airstrikes. The government's policy of maintaining buffer zones without a time limit was outlined by Katz on June 15 and communicated to U.S. officials.
What remains open is the timeline for achieving full operational control of the ridge and the precise definition of control. The condition for any withdrawal — Hezbollah's complete disarmament across Lebanon — has not been met. The security zone's exact boundaries and duration of stay are not further specified.
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