In a major military development along the northern front, the Israel Defense Forces have completely neutralized an extensive underground tunnel complex operated by Hezbollah on the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon. The sweeping operation has culminated in the establishment of a reinforced Israeli security zone across the tactically vital sector, according to high-level defense announcements.
The completion of the underground demolition was confirmed in a joint statement issued by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. Both leaders announced that Israeli ground units have finalized the dismantling of all subterranean corridors within the ridge, securing total operational control over the territory both above and below the surface.
Military assessments indicate that the underground network extended for more than two kilometers through the mountainous terrain. The fortified labyrinth was engineered to provide operatives with concealed mobility, shielding personnel and weapons systems from aerial detection and surface observation while enabling rapid tactical deployment across the sector.
During search and clearance operations within the subterranean pathways, Israeli combat engineers uncovered a substantial cache of advanced weaponry. The discovered stockpile included dozens of Iranian-manufactured rockets, guided missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles, alongside machine guns, dozens of anti-tank guided missiles, and hundreds of landmines and improvised explosive devices.
Defense officials revealed that the subterranean network housed a central command and control installation belonging to Hezbollah’s Badr Unit. The presence of this dedicated headquarters underscored the strategic importance of the ridge as a primary operational hub used by the militant organization to direct military activities throughout the surrounding area.
Inside the subterranean installation, troops documented fortified operational command centers, specialized armories for weapons storage, and fully furnished living quarters. These subterranean accommodations were built to allow Hezbollah fighters to reside underground for extended periods, providing self-sufficient infrastructure to direct sustained combat engagements while remaining protected from conventional strikes.
Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz contextualized the demolition as the elimination of a generational military investment. The two officials noted that the subterranean complex was not a temporary position, but rather a strategic network constructed over the course of two decades with direct financial backing, tactical planning, and engineering assistance from Iran.
According to the official joint statement, the extensive underground facility was designed to serve as a forward staging ground for a broader offensive campaign. Strategic planning tied to the site indicated it was intended to function as an operational launchpad for an invasion aimed at capturing territory across Israel's northern Galilee region.
The physical geography of the Ali al-Taher ridge further elevated its threat level to civilian areas. The high-altitude vantage point granted Hezbollah operatives direct lines of sight and elevated firing positions over key Israeli border communities, placing the northern municipalities of Metulla and Kiryat Shmona under immediate observation and continuous tactical threat.
The destruction of the multi-kilometer underground fortress required an immense quantity of explosives. Following the controlled detonation conducted by military engineers, Lebanese sources cited by Israel's Army Radio reported that a magnitude 4.1 earthquake was registered across the region, reflecting the massive scale of the subterranean demolition.
With the underground infrastructure eradicated, the Israeli military has shifted its operational focus toward long-term stabilization in the sector. Frontline combat units deployed along the Ali al-Taher ridge are now organizing defensive postures to guard the surrounding territory and deter any hostile attempts to re-enter the newly established security perimeter.
Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz reiterated that the Israel Defense Forces intend to maintain an ongoing presence within the security zone. Troops stationed across the area have been instructed to hold dominant ground, secure strategic lines of approach, and safeguard frontier communities from potential cross-border incursions.
Israeli leadership underscored that ongoing military operations will focus on locating and dismantling any remaining militant infrastructure in adjacent areas. The defense establishment emphasized that ground forces will systematically thwart any attempts by Hezbollah to rebuild its underground capabilities or re-establish a permanent armed presence along the ridge.
The elimination of the Ali al-Taher subterranean base represents a significant disruption to Hezbollah's long-term operational framework in southern Lebanon. By dismantling the two-decade-old stronghold and consolidating surface control, Israeli defense authorities aim to deny hostile forces the ability to project direct threats against northern border towns.
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