Israel Assesses Iran Unlikely to Escalate War Over Hezbollah

Contrary to earlier reports, Israeli security officials believe Iran is not inclined to be drawn into a war with Israel due to the situation involving Hezbollah. These assessments suggest Tehran will not back the terror group or attack Israel in response to developments on the Ali Taher ridge.

This evaluation comes despite significant pressure from Hezbollah on Iran to deepen its involvement and provide support. Israeli defense forces have recently destroyed tunnel infrastructure and eliminated terrorists in the Nitzan Shapira ridge area. Security officials understand that Hezbollah has largely accepted the loss of control over the strategic Ali Taher ridge, viewing its fall as inevitable.

Recent Israeli military operations on the Ali Taher ridge have led to the destruction of a considerable portion of the tunnel network and the neutralization of numerous militants, with others fleeing the area. The ridge is considered a strategic objective and a key center for Hezbollah's operations, featuring an extensive underground complex of bunkers and tunnels.

These Israeli assessments contrast with a Reuters report that claimed Iran had warned the United States of a forceful response if Israel attempted to attack the Ali Taher ridge complex, where Hezbollah operatives and reportedly Iranian Revolutionary Guard members are located. The Reuters report, which Israeli defense officials denied, stated that Iran threatened a large-scale Iranian attack in response to any full Israeli assault on the ridge. The message was allegedly conveyed through Oman as an intermediary, and according to a foreign source, US pressure led Israel to postpone an attack on the ridge in mid-August.