Israel Says It Has Taken Control of Strategic Ali al-Taher Ridge

Smoke rises from Israeli strikes targeting the strategic Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon on August 14, 2026. The Israeli military said Thursday that it had established operational control of the ridge following an offensive against Hezbollah positions. (AFP via Getty Images)

The Israeli military said its troops secured the area through ambushes, mortar fire, grenades, and drone strikes.

The Israel Defense Forces claimed that Hezbollah’s Badr Unit had built two tunnel complexes at the site with Iranian funding and planning. According to the Israeli military, the tunnels had been used for decades to coordinate and launch attacks against Israel.

An Israeli military official said Israeli forces targeted the entrances to the tunnels during the operation but found no Iranian advisers or officers inside.

The announcement came hours after Reuters reported that Iran had warned Washington that a full-scale Israeli offensive on the Ali al-Taher Ridge would trigger a major Iranian response.

The ridge has long been one of the most strategically contested areas in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict because of its elevated position, which provides a commanding view over parts of southern Lebanon.