Israeli Military Destroys Strategic Hezbollah Underground Base on Ali al-Taher Ridge in Southern Lebanon

Smoke rises following strikes on Ali al-Taher ridge in Nabatieh, Lebanon, August 22, 2026. The Israeli military announced the destruction of Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure at a critical location in southern Lebanon, with government officials noting the operation has strengthened its designated security zone in the region.

In a joint statement released on Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed that Israeli forces will maintain their presence in the area. The move is intended to block the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militant group from re-establishing its footing and rebuilding its operational capabilities.

Located roughly 15 km (10 miles) from the Israeli border, the Ali al-Taher ridge has emerged as one of the most fiercely contested battlegrounds in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Katz asserted last Friday that Israeli forces successfully pushed Hezbollah fighters out of an extensive tunnel network beneath the disputed highland.

According to Reuters, citing unnamed Lebanese security sources, Hezbollah is believed to have constructed an underground command centre and weapons caches at the site in July. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that a massive blast orchestrated by the military at the ridge sent tremors and powerful shockwaves across Nabatieh and surrounding parts of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has not yet issued a response to the recent strike.

The Israeli military stated it secured full operational control over the ridge—both above and below ground—prior to dismantling the infrastructure. The tunnel network stretched for more than 2 km (just over 1 mile) and held dozens of rockets, missiles, drones, anti-tank missiles, mines, and other explosive devices.

Additionally, the military reported that a central command complex associated with Hezbollah’s Badr unit was housed within the underground system. This complex featured command hubs, weapons storage rooms, and living quarters designed to sustain fighters underground for extended periods.

Reports indicate that Iran warned the United States last month of a forceful response if Israeli military actions on the ridge persisted. Over recent weeks, Israeli strikes and ground operations around the Ali al-Taher ridge have pressed forward despite a ceasefire established in June, which followed Israel's seizure of nearby Beaufort Castle and higher ground overlooking southern Lebanon and northern Israel.

A US-brokered framework, agreed upon following the June ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel without direct negotiations involving Hezbollah, mandates the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon alongside the disarmament of Hezbollah by Lebanese troops. However, this process has stalled as Hezbollah refuses to surrender its weapons and Israel maintains it will not pull back until the disarmament is complete. Since 2023, Israel has advanced into southern Lebanon to occupy strategic positions, increasingly arguing that the captured land is necessary to secure a buffer zone between Israeli territory and Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.