Israel Reportedly Releases Lebanese Prisoner as Goodwill Gesture

Israel is expected to transfer a Lebanese prisoner, Malek Kamal Ghazi, to Lebanon on Thursday via the Ras Naqoura crossing as a goodwill gesture, according to Saudi channel Al Hadath. Ghazi, 20, from the village of Ain Ata in the Rashaya district, reportedly disappeared in October 2025, with his family later claiming he was captured by Israel and taken into its territory. No official confirmation has been provided by Israel or Lebanon.

In a separate development, Iran has warned the United States of a large-scale response if Israel launches a full-scale operation to capture the Al-Tahir mountain ridge in southern Lebanon. This ridge is reportedly occupied by over a dozen members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) alongside Hezbollah operatives. The warning was conveyed to Washington through Oman, which has acted as an intermediary between the US and Iran, according to three sources briefed on the Iranian message, as reported by Reuters.

Two of these sources, who are regional figures briefed by Tehran, indicated that at least two senior officers are among the IRGC members present on the ridge. The potential Israeli operation targets an area where militants are said to be entrenched.