Israel claims control of strategic Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the capture of the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, consolidating Israel's hold on its self-declared security zone. The military cleared a massive, Iranian-funded underground tunnel network beneath the ridge and began demolition operations. Despite a June 2026 ceasefire, fighting has persisted, culminating in expanded Israeli airstrikes outside the security zone that killed five people. Hezbollah has downplayed the loss, calling the offensive an electoral stunt by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel's October elections.

Ali Taher ridge capture

• ▪The Ali al-Taher ridge is located near the city of Nabatieh and the Litani River, approximately six miles from Lebanon's border with Israel.
• ▪Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on September 4, 2026, that Israeli forces captured the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon.
• ▪The Israel Defense Forces stated on September 3, 2026, that troops of the 36th Division achieved operational control of the Ali al-Taher ridge area above and below ground.

Underground tunnel infrastructure

• ▪The Israel Defense Forces stated that they cleared two major tunnel routes under the Ali al-Taher ridge, killing some Hezbollah operatives while others fled.
• ▪The Israeli military stated that it is working to demolish the cleared underground site beneath the Ali al-Taher ridge.
• ▪The underground facility beneath the Ali al-Taher ridge contained command centers, weapons rooms, generator rooms, living quarters, showers, and a kitchen.
• ▪The Israel Defense Forces described the underground facility beneath the Ali al-Taher ridge as a strategic infrastructure built over two decades and funded by Iran.

Israeli strikes outside security zone

• ▪Following the capture of the Ali al-Taher ridge, the Israeli military launched an overnight bombing campaign in Lebanon outside its self-declared security zone.
• ▪Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa Valley killed five people and wounded 24 others, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.
• ▪Israeli strikes hit a motorcycle in the Nabatieh district, killing two people, and hit a house in Ramadiyeh, killing one person and wounding 15 others.

June ceasefire violations

• ▪Hezbollah spokesman Youssef al-Zein denied that any Iranian personnel were present at the Ali al-Taher ridge position.
• ▪The Israeli military launched strikes on September 4, 2026, in response to a Hezbollah drone attack targeting Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon.
• ▪Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has continued despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire framework agreed to by Israel and Lebanon in June 2026.

Netanyahu electoral strategy

• ▪Hezbollah downplayed the capture of the Ali al-Taher ridge, denouncing the military maneuver as an electoral ploy by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
• ▪Middle East experts linked the escalation at the Ali al-Taher ridge to upcoming Israeli elections scheduled for October 2026.

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