Israel Withdraws from Ali Al-Taher Hill, Vows to Maintain Control

The Israeli military withdrew from the Ali Al-Taher hill in southern Lebanon within the past 24 hours, after completing the destruction of Hezbollah's tunnel network in the area. Despite the withdrawal, Israel continues to control and monitor the hill, along with targeting it with artillery and airstrikes. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Ali Al-Taher is part of the "Yellow Line" and that the Israeli army will maintain control, vowing to eliminate anyone who approaches it.

Israeli forces are currently reorganizing along the so-called "Yellow Line," having decided not to withdraw from the Beaufort Castle at this time, according to Israeli media reports. Channel 12 indicated that this move comes as the army considers further redeploying its forces on the Lebanese front.

Despite the withdrawal, the Israeli army continues its attacks on the Ali Al-Taher area and adjacent villages. These strikes aim to prevent Hezbollah operatives from returning to the "cleansed" area, according to reports. The Israeli military is monitoring these areas and coordinating with the Lebanese government to explore the possibility of deploying Lebanese army troops to the evacuated areas.

The army maintains a high state of alert for any potential Hezbollah response and is preparing for various scenarios, with ongoing consultations among leadership regarding subsequent operational steps. The Israeli military plans to reduce its forces in Lebanon, potentially significantly, to redeploy some regular brigades to the West Bank, which would ease the service burden on reserve soldiers. However, no final decision has been made, and the alert level in Lebanon remains high. Discussions are underway between the army and political leadership regarding force deployment, with expectations of withdrawing one brigade and reducing overall troop numbers in the area.