2 hrs ago
Israel Says It Destroyed Hezbollah Complex in Southern Lebanon
Israel says it destroyed a large underground Hezbollah facility in southern Lebanon.
The facility was under the Ali al-Taher ridge, about 15 kilometers from Israel’s border.
Israel says the tunnels stretched for more than two kilometers.
It says the site held rockets, missiles, drones, guns, mines and other explosives.
The military also said Hezbollah’s Badr unit had a command centre, storage rooms and living areas there.
Lebanon’s state news agency reported that a very large explosion shook the area.
Israel says its forces now control the ridge above and below ground.
Israeli officials say troops will remain there to stop Hezbollah from returning.
The operation is part of a wider dispute over Israeli positions in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah’s weapons.
Israel said it destroyed Hezbollah underground infrastructure beneath the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military said the network extended more than two kilometers and contained weapons, explosives and a Badr unit command complex.
Israel said it had established operational control of the ridge above and below ground before dismantling the site.
Lebanon’s state news agency reported a powerful blast that caused tremors across Nabatieh and surrounding areas.
The operation comes amid a stalled framework calling for Israeli withdrawal and Lebanese efforts to disarm Hezbollah.
- Who
- The Israeli military, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz and Hezbollah are central to the report.
- What
- Israel said it destroyed Hezbollah underground infrastructure, including a command complex and weapons stores.
- Where
- The operation took place beneath the Ali al-Taher ridge in the Nabatieh region of southern Lebanon, about 15 kilometers from Israel’s border.
- When
- The announcement and reported explosion occurred on Thursday, September 10, after Israel said it captured the ridge the previous week.
- Why
- Israel said the operation was intended to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and prevent the group from re-establishing its presence.
Israel’s Position
Hezbollah and Lebanese Context
Control of the ridge
Israel’s Position
Israel says it has achieved operational control of the Ali al-Taher ridge and must remain there to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its capabilities.
Hezbollah and Lebanese Context
A U.S.-brokered framework called for Israeli forces to gradually withdraw, while Hezbollah has refused to give up its weapons.
Nature of the facility
Israel’s Position
The Israeli military describes the site as strategic terrorist infrastructure built with Iranian funding and planning and containing weapons and a Badr unit command centre.
Hezbollah and Lebanese Context
Lebanese security sources cited by Reuters said Hezbollah was believed to have built an underground command centre and weapons stores there; the reports do not include a Hezbollah response confirming or disputing Israel’s account.
Security-zone policy
Israel’s Position
Israel says maintaining its position is necessary to stop Hezbollah from re-establishing a presence in the area.
Hezbollah and Lebanese Context
The reported framework envisioned Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and Lebanese troops taking responsibility, while the continued Israeli presence is described as an expanded, self-declared buffer or security zone.
Key facts
- Location
- Ali al-Taher ridge, Nabatieh region, southern Lebanon
- Distance from Israel
- About 15 kilometers, or 10 miles, from the Israeli border
- Tunnel length
- More than 2 kilometers, according to the Israeli military
- Reported contents
- Rockets, missiles, drones, machine guns, anti-tank missiles, mines and explosive devices
- Hezbollah facility
- A command complex belonging to Hezbollah’s Badr unit, with command centres, weapons storage rooms and living quarters
- Israeli position
- Israel said it established operational control of the ridge above and below ground and would remain there
- Diplomatic context
- A U.S.-brokered framework called for Israeli withdrawal and Lebanese efforts to disarm Hezbollah, but the process has stalled
Quotes
Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Katz
Israel’s prime minister and defence minister, speaking in a joint statement
“This is strategic terrorist infrastructure that was built over two decades, with Iranian funding and planning”
NDTV
Sources
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