How Israeli commandos hunted Hezbollah underground for 3 months before blowing up Ali Taher Ridge

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1. 1h ago

   Israel Destroys Major Underground Hezbollah Base

   Israeli commandos hunted Hezbollah underground for three months before destroying a major underground base and blowing up the Ali Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon. The operation triggered a massive blast that shook southern Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces struck southern Lebanon after warning northern Israeli residents about upcoming explosions. As Israeli forces pushed from the outskirts of the ridge into the subterranean network, Hezbollah repeatedly revised what counted as a success for the group, shifting from denying Israeli entry to portraying the loss of the position as an attritional achievement.

   Why it matters

   The destruction of the subterranean stronghold marks a significant tactical escalation in southern Lebanon amid ongoing regional hostilities involving Iran and its proxies. Meanwhile, diplomatic talks face friction as Israel accuses the Lebanon army chief of ties to Hezbollah, and the IDF chief asserts that the Lebanese army needs to significantly improve its effectiveness against the group. The broader conflict continues to drag on with international diplomatic friction.

   What is confirmed

   • Israel says it has destroyed a major underground Hezbollah base.
   • A massive blast shook southern Lebanon as Israel destroyed the underground base.
   • Israeli commandos hunted Hezbollah underground for three months prior to blowing up the Ali Taher Ridge.
   • As Israeli forces pushed from the outskirts of Ali al Taher Ridge into its underground network, Hezbollah repeatedly revised what counted as a success for the group.
   • The IDF struck southern Lebanon after warning northern Israeli residents about explosions.

   What to watch next

   • Further Israeli military actions or strikes in southern Lebanon
   • Responses from Hezbollah regarding the loss of the Ali Taher Ridge position
   • Developments in stalled talks involving the Lebanese army and regional diplomatic efforts
   Sources used for this update (11)

   1. BBC — Israel says it has destroyed major underground Hezbollah base
   2. The New York Times — Blast Shakes Southern Lebanon as Israel Destroys Underground Hezbollah Base
   3. aljazeera.com — Iran war live: Iran’s top diplomat heads to China as war drags on
   4. Ynetnews — How Israeli commandos hunted Hezbollah underground for 3 months before blowing up Ali Taher Ridge
   5. The Jerusalem Post — How did the IDF capture the Ali Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon?
   6. The Arab Weekly — Israel accuses Lebanon army chief of Hezbollah ties as talks stall
   7. Yahoo — IDF strikes southern Lebanon after warning northern Israeli residents about explosions
   8. The Times of Israel — IDF chief: Lebanese army needs to ‘significantly improve’ effectiveness against Hezbollah
   9. Just Security — Don’t Let Lebanon’s Peace Agreement Prove Hezbollah Right
   10. The Jerusalem Post — IDF warns northern Israel communities prior to southern Lebanon strikes
   11. www.longwarjournal.org — How Hezbollah reframed the battle for Ali al Taher as Israel advanced
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