Iran Warns of Major Attack If Israel Occupies Lebanon's Ali Taher Ridge

Iran has warned the United States that it will launch a "large-scale attack" if Israel initiates a full military operation to occupy the Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon. The warning was reportedly conveyed to the U.S. last month via Oman, which acts as a mediator between the two nations, according to three sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters.

Two of these sources claim that over a dozen members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, including senior officers, are present on the ridge alongside Hezbollah operatives. This presence, if confirmed, would significantly escalate the stakes, as an Israeli strike could directly target Iranian military personnel. However, Reuters could not independently verify the presence of Iranian forces.

A third source, identified as a foreign official with direct knowledge of the message, stated that the warning was delivered around mid-August. This source also alleged that U.S. pressure subsequently led Israel to postpone a planned assault on the ridge. The White House has denied this, with a U.S. official telling Reuters, "That is not accurate."

The Ali Taher ridge is a key point of contention between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanese security sources told Reuters that Hezbollah has established an underground command center and weapons depots there. Hezbollah has publicly asserted control over the ridge and vowed to confront any Israeli advance, while the IDF considers it a primary area of operation.

Israeli military assessments differ from the Iranian claims. A report in Israel's Maariv newspaper, citing a military source, suggests that the IDF does not believe Revolutionary Guard members are present on Ali Taher. This source also indicated that some captured Hezbollah operatives in the area died after being left without food and water, a situation previously reported by Reuters in June.

Despite the Iranian warning and the alleged U.S. pressure, the possibility of an Israeli operation to take the ridge remains on the table. A Lebanese source close to Hezbollah and a senior Lebanese security official told Reuters that an Israeli takeover operation could still occur in the coming weeks. Hezbollah has warned that a large-scale attack on the ridge would be considered a return to full-scale war, potentially leading to missile launches targeting northern Israeli communities.