IDF Destroys Hezbollah's Last Tunnels in Southern Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have concluded an operation to clear the Ali-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, destroying the last remaining Hezbollah tunnels in the area. Military correspondent Avi Ashkenazi of the newspaper Maariv assessed the action as a significant blow to the Iran-backed organization's infrastructure. The operation involved combat engineers and commandos from the 36th Division.

These underground structures had been used for approximately two decades as command and control centers for Hezbollah's "Bader" forces, a key unit in southern Lebanon. Ashkenazi noted that the landscape has visibly changed following the destruction, with large craters replacing former structures on the peaks of the Ali-Taher, Beaufort, and Kantara ridges. These facilities were part of a larger system built by Iran and Hezbollah for combat operations against Israel.

Ashkenazi described the loss of Ali-Taher as both a symbolic and strategic blow to Hezbollah and Iran's influence in southern Lebanon. The organization is now in a difficult position, having lost substantial prepared infrastructure and defensive lines. Hezbollah has also recently lost 15 tunnels linked to its "Shelter Cities" project, and the displacement of many residents from southern Lebanon has further weakened its standing in several villages.

Despite these setbacks, Ashkenazi cautioned that the threat is not entirely eliminated, stating that Hezbollah has not surrendered and likely will not in the near future. He anticipates a potential shift to guerrilla tactics, with the organization possibly using fog and terrain for ambushes, mining buildings, and attacking Israeli units. Consequently, the IDF continues daily operations in southern Lebanon, using air force and artillery support to locate and destroy explosive device sites before ground troops advance.

Ashkenazi believes the current weakening of Iran and Hezbollah presents a political window of opportunity for Israel. He suggests Jerusalem should leverage this situation to strengthen the Lebanese government and army, and to establish a new reality in southern Lebanon. IDF units, including the 36th Division near Beaufort and the 91st Division controlling territory from the coast to Mount Dov, remain in Lebanon. Ashkenazi warned that despite Hezbollah's weakened state, it retains the capacity to continue fighting, urging Israel to consider not only military achievements but also the potential for the enemy to adopt new forms of warfare.