A Lebanese security source told the newspaper Nidaa al-Watan that Israel launched a secret operation to seize the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon and is determined to capture it regardless of cost. The source said Hezbollah and IRGC forces are struggling with severed supply lines, and the ridge's fall may be a matter of time. According to the report, pessimism prevails in Beirut over the negotiation process, with Lebanese sources saying US pressure alone will not suffice to secure further IDF withdrawals.
A Lebanese security source told the newspaper Nidaa al-Watan that Israel has launched a secret military operation to seize the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon and is determined to capture it regardless of cost. The source said Hezbollah and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces are struggling with severed supply lines, and the ridge's fall may be a matter of time. The assessment comes hours after The Zioneer reported, at 10:45 Jerusalem, that the IDF had tightened the siege on Hezbollah operatives trapped underground at the ridge — cutting water supply lines, striking water storage tanks, and shooting down Hezbollah drones that attempted to deliver water to the operatives.
The Zioneer has tracked the battle for the Ali al-Taher ridge over a period of weeks. Earlier today at 10:45 Jerusalem, three consecutive reports from the Lebanese daily Nidaa al-Watan described the IDF tightening the siege, destroying water infrastructure, and intercepting resupply drones. These developments follow a series of dated antecedents: on June 19, Hezbollah claimed to have hit Israeli vehicles near the ridge, an unverified claim; on June 20, Hezbollah stated it remained committed to the ceasefire but would confront IDF advances at the ridge; on June 13, The Zioneer reported IDF forces had reached the outskirts of Nabatieh and the ridge; on July 31, the IDF said its forces were continuing operations on the ridge with high readiness; on August 1, the IDF carried out combined strikes in the area; and on August 3, the Lebanese newspaper Al-Diyar reported that Israel had made a principled decision regarding the Lebanese army's eventual deployment on the ridge.
As The Zioneer has previously reported, the Ali al-Taher ridge rises to approximately 697 meters and overlooks the city of Nabatieh and major routes in southern Lebanon. It is a strategic high ground housing significant subterranean Hezbollah terror infrastructure, and has been a focal point of IDF operations aimed at dismantling the group's cross-border attack capabilities.
The report from the Lebanese security source has not been independently confirmed by the IDF or other official sources. The precise timeline for the ridge's capture and the exact status of Hezbollah and IRGC forces on the ground remain unclear.
4 developments
- StrongIDF launches operation to capture Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, Lebanese reports say
- DevelopingIDF captures Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, security sources say
- DevelopingReport: Israel makes principled decision on Lebanese army deployment at Ali al-Taher ridge
- StrongNew activity reported at Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon
Source and signal
- Open-source intake