Israel Warns Hezbollah: Any Approach to Ali Taher Ridge Will Be Met With Destruction

Defense Minister Israel Katz has declared that the Ali Taher Ridge in Lebanon is an integral part of Israel's security zone, which extends 700 kilometers from the coast to the Hermon region. He stated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are operationally prepared to control the ridge and prevent any attempt by Hezbollah or other entities to re-establish a presence there, issuing a stark warning: "Whoever approaches the ridge will be destroyed."

This declaration follows the completion of an operation to destroy terror tunnels in the Ali Taher Ridge, which were considered a central nerve center for Hezbollah and built with Iranian assistance. Spanning approximately 5.4 kilometers, these tunnels were too deep and fortified to be targeted from the air. They served Hezbollah as a regional command center and a position for fire control and observation over the Nabatieh plain and Israel's northern home front.

Following the demolition of the underground complex, IDF forces repositioned themselves to strategic positions along the "Blue Line," the internationally recognized border between Lebanon and Israel, where they had already been consolidating in recent days. Additionally, IDF forces will maintain their presence in the Beaufort complex for the time being. Israel's defense establishment is monitoring the situation closely, preparing for a potential response from Hezbollah or Iran in the coming days.

Katz reiterated the firm stance shared with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "We are not moving from the security zone, and the IDF will not retreat or redeploy until Hezbollah is disarmed throughout Lebanon." Concurrently, the IDF will continue its robust operations in the area to thwart terrorists and dismantle underground and above-ground terror infrastructure.