Israel Captures Ali al-Taher Ridge and Vows No Withdrawal

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Friday that Israel will not withdraw from the security zone in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed throughout the country and threats to the Galilee are removed. This declaration follows the Israel Defense Forces' capture of the Ali al-Taher Ridge, a strategic location situated above one of Hezbollah's largest underground bases.

The operation, executed by the IDF's 36th Division, targeted a command-and-control network built over two decades with Iranian funding. The military established operational control after a June operation encircled the facility, trapping dozens of militants and Iranian advisers. While the IDF has neutralized the underground routes and established control of the ridge, operations to fully dismantle the infrastructure continue.

The escalation follows a stalled U.S.-brokered peace framework from June that required Hezbollah to disarm and the Lebanese military to deploy in pilot zones before an Israeli withdrawal. In response to the capture, Iran warned the United States via Oman that the operation crossed a "red line" and threatened forceful retaliation if the offensive continues. Tehran maintains that any agreement to end its broader conflict with the U.S. must include a cessation of fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon.