Iran's Revolutionary Guard Denies Holding Fighters in Lebanese Tunnels

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has denied claims circulating on social media that some of its fighters were being held in underground tunnels on the Ali Taher ridge in Lebanon. The IRGC stated that only 48 Hezbollah operatives were present in the two tunnels breached by the Israeli military, and that eight of them were killed during the operation.

Following the Israeli military's operation to eliminate the Hezbollah operatives and destroy their tunnel network on the Ali Taher ridge, Israeli forces are consolidating control over the strategic area. The objective is to prevent any attempts by the enemy to re-establish a presence there.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning to Lebanon, stating, "Anyone who approaches the Ali Taher ridge will be destroyed." He emphasized the region's importance to the security of northern Israel, describing the Ali Taher ridge as part of Israel's security zone in Lebanon, spanning 700 square kilometers from the coast to the Beaufort Castle and Mount Hermon area.

Katz reiterated the firm policy of the Israeli political and security leadership, echoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stance: "We are not moving from the security zone, and the IDF will not retreat or redeploy until Hezbollah is disarmed throughout Lebanon."