Lebanese President Visits Southern Lebanon After IDF Strikes Hezbollah Site

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun made a surprise visit to the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on Saturday, approximately 3 kilometers from the Ali Taher ridge. The ridge was the site of a major Israeli military operation on Thursday, where the IDF destroyed a strategic underground Hezbollah facility using over 1,100 tons of explosives. Aoun, accompanied by Lebanese security officials including the army commander, arrived without prior notice and expressed solidarity with the residents.

During his visit, President Aoun toured the government hospital in Nabatieh, praising the medical staff's courage. He then proceeded to the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiya, where he observed army units and visited a church, from which he surveyed Israeli positions in Zawtar al-Sharqiya. Aoun stated that there are currently no new negotiations with Israel, emphasizing that Israeli withdrawal, the return of displaced persons and prisoners, and reconstruction are national principles Lebanon is committed to achieving.

The Ali Taher ridge facility, built with Iranian assistance, was considered a nerve center for Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. New images from the area show the aftermath of the massive explosion, with many trees gone and large white-painted rocks covering the summit where the underground complex was located. The facility's depth and fortifications made it difficult to target effectively with airstrikes alone. The tunnels, extending approximately 5.4 kilometers, housed command centers, weapons storage, generators, living quarters, and kitchens, enabling Hezbollah operatives to conduct operations and stay for extended periods.

Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, originally scheduled for next week in Rome, have been postponed to October, according to a US diplomatic source. The delay is attributed to scheduling conflicts, including the UN General Assembly in late September, the Jewish holiday period, and a conference supporting the Lebanese army in Paris. Despite the postponement, Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the US are still expected to meet in Washington next week to discuss recent developments and the gradual implementation of the framework agreement signed in June.

This agreement, which establishes the deployment of the Lebanese army in Israeli-vacated 'pilot zones' contingent on Hezbollah's disarmament, remains the sole practical mechanism for restoring Lebanese sovereignty and Israeli security, the US source noted. Previous rounds of talks were held in Rome under US auspices. In a gesture of goodwill, Israel recently released five Lebanese prisoners, while Lebanon is reportedly searching for the remains of missing Jews.