Israel Destroys 2-km Hezbollah Base in Southern Lebanon, Vows to Hold 15-km Border Ridge
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 11
Israel Destroys 2-km Hezbollah Base in Southern Lebanon, Vows to Hold 15-km Border Ridge
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 11
Summary
Israeli forces said they had taken operational control of Ali al-Taher ridge above and below ground before blowing up Hezbollah’s underground base, a site about 15 km from the Israeli border.
The military said the network stretched more than 2 km and housed a Badr unit command complex, weapons stores and living quarters, along with dozens of rockets, missiles, drones, mines and anti-tank weapons.
Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said troops would stay in the area to stop Hezbollah from rebuilding, framing the operation as consolidation of Israel’s self-declared security zone.
The blast was felt across Nabatieh, while fighting around the ridge has continued despite a June ceasefire and a US-backed plan for Israeli withdrawal tied to Lebanese disarmament of Hezbollah.
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The Fall of Ali al-Taher Ridge: How Israel’s September 2026 Offensive Reshaped the Lebanon-Israel Conflict, Hezbollah Strategy, and Regional Power Dynamics
Overview
In September 2026, the Israeli military captured the Ali al-Taher Ridge after weeks of fighting, using massive explosives to destroy Hezbollah’s underground network and triggering an earthquake across Lebanon. This victory forced Hezbollah to abandon static defenses and shift to decentralized guerrilla tactics, relying heavily on drones as their missile stockpiles dwindled. The battle and its aftermath led to deadly drone attacks, Israeli airstrikes, and significant civilian casualties. Diplomatically, Hezbollah’s refusal to hand over the ridge to the Lebanese Army stalled peace talks, while Israel expanded its buffer zone, deepening Lebanon’s political crisis and humanitarian suffering.