Israel has asked that the Lebanese Armed Forces deploy at the Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon ahead of an IDF withdrawal from the area, a US source said Tuesday evening. Israel also requested to search Hezbollah tunnels on the ridge to ensure no operatives remain, according to the same source. The request signals a diplomatic track to hand over the sensitive ridge, following weeks of IDF ground operations there.
According to a US source cited by Israel Hayom on Tuesday evening, Israel has requested that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) deploy at the Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon as a condition for an IDF withdrawal from the area. This would be a test of Beirut's willingness to confront Hezbollah, as The Zioneer reported on Monday. The source added that Israel also demands to search Hezbollah tunnels on the ridge to ensure they contain no operatives before any handover.
The request comes after weeks of close-quarters combat at the ridge. As The Zioneer reported on Saturday, IDF ground troops were battling Hezbollah at the Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon. The ridge, a strategic high ground, has been a focal point of the ground campaign.
A report from Sunday night, citing Lebanese sources via Al-Jadeed, had claimed that Israel was refusing to hand over a Hezbollah facility to the LAF and insisted on demolishing it — directly contradicting the current request. It remains unclear whether the new request supersedes that position or applies to a different site on the ridge.
The US source's statement is a single report and has not been confirmed by Israeli or Lebanese officials.
- DevelopingIran pushing for ceasefire to stall IDF operations on Ali Taher ridge, per analyst
- StrongIDF ground troops battle Hezbollah at Ali Taher ridge, southern Lebanon
- StrongLebanese sources: Five killed in Israeli strike on south Lebanon's Ali Taher ridge
- DevelopingIDF continues to clear Ali al-Taher ridge, reports firing from Arab Salim
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
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