IDF Division 36 Uses Deception to Clear Beaufort Ridge, Hezbollah Militants Killed After Fleeing Tunnel

IDF Division 36, commanded by Brig. Gen. Yiftach Norkin, was the first to enter the al-Tayba area in southern Lebanon at the start of the campaign against Iran as part of Operation “Roar of the Lion,” in order to prevent the Radwan Force from infiltrating toward Kibbutz Misgav Am in the Finger of the Galilee. Footage released Thursday evening by the IDF Spokesperson shows Hezbollah militants fleeing underground tunnels and being killed from the air during an operation by the Commando Brigade combat team and the Yahalom Unit under the command of Division 36.

After the attack on the Radwan Force at the start of the campaign, Division 36 deepened the fighting into the villages of Qantara and Deir Siryan. Those areas, up to the Litani River, were Hezbollah’s traditional defensive lines in earlier battles. For a long period, the division prepared the conditions for crossing the Litani River and the Salki Stream. According to security sources, “These are very complex crossings, with tanks and Namer APCs.” Security sources added, “Hezbollah prepared to defend these places with underground infrastructure, and we carried out a very significant deception. We ostensibly went north, and in practice we opened a route covertly while Hezbollah was distracted by our activity. This is a deception exercise in which Hezbollah does not see the breakthrough in the ‘Litani knee.’ There, in the center of the Litani sector, we are breaking through a route that was previously defined as ‘impassable,’ and from there we are expanding into a divisional attack toward the southern Nabatieh ridge.”

They also said, “We are sweeping the Litani, making sure there are no terrorists as we move into the thicket, and killing dozens of terrorists there. With Armored Brigade 7, we are carrying out a diversionary action in Salki. Since 1982 the IDF has not crossed rivers. We are making the crossing with tanks and opening several passages and routes in order to climb up the ridge. The ridge was first seized by Givati forces. Their operation was intended to enable Golani to capture Beaufort Ridge.”

The military says Beaufort Ridge was captured for two main reasons. First, because it is within Hezbollah’s fire and observation range. Second, to deny it its infrastructure. In this context, it should be noted that this is a very significant underground infrastructure, with a hospital inside it and firing slits intended to control the traffic routes into the ridge. Security sources said, “We seize part of the infrastructure in advance, and then bring the armored forces up fairly smoothly. During that time we are wearing down the entire enemy infrastructure, and breaking through in a battle of seizure both westward and northward.”

They added, “In the operation against the entire underground infrastructure, we killed about 20 terrorists there. Some tried to flee and we killed them as they ran. We mapped the routes and will conduct a situational assessment for further treatment. This allows the IDF to expand either westward or northward. It is important to emphasize that crossing the Litani and controlling Nabatieh alone is not enough to defeat Hezbollah, but it is an important stage in weakening it, and this is a military opportunity that did not exist in the past.”

“Including ammunition that allows us to shoot down drones”

The military has identified attempts by individual militants to reach maneuvering forces at crossings and routes. “Yesterday we thwarted several terrorists, there was an encounter with our forces,” security sources said. According to them, Hezbollah is mainly using explosive drones and also a small number of anti-tank missiles. “We have introduced ammunition that allows us to shoot down drones, and we are at high percentages,” the security sources said. “We are scanning during the day and operating during the day, and we hope that in the near future additional systems will enter to improve warning, detection and interception.”

They also said, regarding the troubling issue, “The drop in casualties from drones stems from several reasons. First, strikes on drone operators, and in addition the forces are learning to deal with this threat. This includes proper actions by the ‘sky observer’, the soldier whose job is to shoot at the drone, and better organization of the vehicles and the areas where we are located. In addition, Hezbollah has a problem with drone supplies and manpower.”

Referring to Hezbollah’s current condition, security sources said, “Hezbollah still has capabilities. It is suffering very heavy attrition, which is reflected in the fact that its command is missing. It is deployed on the Nabatieh line and is struggling hard to prevent the capture of additional targets. It is reinforcing the line beyond Salki with dozens of operatives. It has a shortage of anti-tank weapons and anti-aircraft systems. It is drawing forces from the Bekaa and from training in Beirut.”

In conclusion, security sources said, “The IDF is still focused on defense, but even within defense there is a purpose of weakening Hezbollah and exacting a price from it. Whoever makes the decisions will decide what comes next. The mission to get here and open the options has been carried out by the division. If we are updated on new plans, we will advance accordingly. We always take into account how our actions will affect the home front, so most of the operation is focused on southern Lebanon.”

As noted, the Commando Brigade combat team and the Yahalom Unit, under the command of Division 36 and guided by Military Intelligence and Northern Command, are working to deepen the clearing of the underground tunnel network beneath Beaufort Ridge. During the clearing of the tunnel network, many weapons were found, including mortar shells, fragmentation grenades, RPG launchers, Kornet missiles, anti-aircraft machine guns and Kalashnikov rifles. During recent activity by the Egoz Unit to locate shafts and underground routes, a drone belonging to the Yahalom Unit identified militants in one of the underground routes. The militants fled and fired at the drone. Afterwards, the militants were identified together with additional militants who tried to flee from the underground route. The Air Force, guided by the forces, struck and killed the militants.