Israel claims control of Lebanon’s key Ali al-Taher ridge: What that means

Israel this week has claimed to have established operational control over the strategically vital Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, after an extended operation against positions of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.In a statement on Friday, Defence Minister Israel Katz claimed Israeli forces had driven Hezbollah fighters out of what he said was a network of tunnels ⁠⁠under the contested highland, 15km (10 miles) from the border.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Israel releases five detainees to Lebanon after US-mediated negotiationslist 2 of 4October 7 attack shapes Israel’s elections and fuels political blamelist 3 of 4Israeli strike kills three in southern Lebanon amid ongoing escalationlist 4 of 4Israeli drones drop bombs on southern Lebanon’s Mansouriend of list“Prime Minister Netanyahu and I are leading a clear and uncompromising policy, reinforced every day by the [Israeli military]: Israel will not withdraw from the security zone in Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed throughout Lebanon and the threats to the residents of the Galilee are removed,” he was quoted as saying by Israeli media. “The capture of Ali Taher is an important step towards achieving thi...