The IDF said it identified a vehicle carrying suspects that crossed the security zone in the Ali Tahar ridge area of southern Lebanon and posed a direct threat to Israeli forces operating there. An Israeli Air Force aircraft struck the suspects shortly after the sighting in order to remove the immediate danger. The army said, "The IDF will not allow the terrorist organization Hezbollah to harm the citizens of the State of Israel and its forces, and will continue to act to remove immediate threats."
The strike was the latest in a series of similar incidents in the same area. It was the third reported attempt in 48 hours by hostile elements to attack IDF troops in southern Lebanon. Earlier on Wednesday morning, Givati reconnaissance troops struck two armed Hezbollah operatives who had crossed into the security zone at Ali Tahar Ridge and threatened the fighters.
On Tuesday, two more incidents were reported there. In the morning, an armed Hezbollah cell was identified operating near IDF forces in the security zone, and in a rapid closing of the circle the troops struck the militants north of the area. Several hours later, four militants riding a bulldozer and a motorcycle crossed into the security zone and approached the forces in a way that created an immediate threat.
Against the backdrop of the repeated violations, Defense Minister Israel Katz said this week that Israel would not withdraw from southern Lebanon even if the United States demanded it. He said, "200,000 residents will not return. There are no residents and no terrorists. We will not leave the security zone in Syria and Lebanon, and that is the security concept. The IDF must be on the enemy's side and protect the communities from within the territory itself." IDF forces remain deployed throughout the security zone, up to 10 kilometers from the Israel-Lebanon border, with operational control over the high ridges around Ali Tahar and nearby areas, and continue working to eliminate threats and prevent attacks on soldiers and Israeli civilians.
