NYT Reports Hezbollah Command Center in Southern Lebanon Captured

The New York Times has reported that the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, currently occupied by Israeli forces, housed Hezbollah's main command center and significant weaponry, including rockets and drones, within its underground facilities. According to a representative of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who spoke anonymously to the NYT, between 70 and 100 Hezbollah operatives and Iranian advisors from the Quds Force were trapped in the tunnels after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) surrounded the area.

The IDF announced on September 3rd that it had completed its operation to clear the Hezbollah underground complex under the Ali al-Taher ridge and was preparing for its demolition. The military stated that some militants were eliminated while others managed to escape. The IDF described the complex, which was built over approximately two decades with Iranian support, as a strategic asset and the "nerve center" for Hezbollah's regional Badr unit.

The Ali al-Taher ridge is located about 15 kilometers from the Israeli border and holds significant strategic importance due to its commanding view over a large part of southern Lebanon. This area has been a focal point of conflict between the IDF and Hezbollah in recent months. The IRGC had previously threatened strikes against Israel if the complex was destroyed.