The Israeli military says its forces have secured the Ali al-Tahir heights in southern Lebanon and neutralised Hezbollah infrastructure built there with Iranian support.
The Israeli military's spokesperson Ela Wuie said that Israeli forces have completed the clearing of underground infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah in the Ali al-Tahir heights and are working to neutralise it. She said that Division 36 forces cleared two underground tunnels in the Ali al-Tahir area in recent weeks, achieving operational control over the heights above and below ground.
Wuie said that some fighters inside the tunnels were killed while others fled. The military continues to work on neutralising the underground infrastructure in the area, she added, and will redeploy defensively once the operation is complete.
Inside the tunnels, Israeli forces found operations rooms, weapons storage, generator rooms, rest areas, shower facilities and a kitchen, allowing fighters to conduct operations and remain there for extended periods. An Israeli military official said the underground infrastructure was built over two decades with Iranian funding and planning.
The Israeli military said no Iranian military advisers or officers were found inside the tunnels. It said Hezbollah built the infrastructure with Tehran's financing and planning. An Israeli source told Sky News Arabic that the Ali al-Tahir area is now clear of Hezbollah fighters.
An Israeli source said Hezbollah attempted recently to obtain funding from Iran but the request was not approved.
Wuie said the military will continue to clear the security zone in southern Lebanon and will not allow Hezbollah to carry out attacks. The Israeli military will forcefully respond to any Hezbollah attempt to attack Israeli forces while continuing its commitment to the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, she said.
