Israel says it cleared Hezbollah fighters from tunnel positions in southern Lebanon

Israel says its military has cleared Hezbollah fighters from tunnel positions under the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon and now has operational control of the strategic area. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the mission had been completed and that the tunnels had been cleared, while the military said some fighters had been eliminated and others had fled. Hezbollah had not immediately commented on the claim, and the status of the ridge could not be independently verified.

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The ridge overlooks a wide area and has been one of the most contested locations in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, despite a ceasefire announced in June. Israel had previously said Hezbollah fighters were embedded in tunnels beneath the site, which it described as a strategic position. The military also said it had expanded its presence across parts of southern Lebanon since launching a new campaign against Hezbollah in March.

The development comes as Israel and Lebanon continue US-brokered talks that have included confidence-building measures. On the same day, Israeli authorities transferred four detainees to Lebanese authorities via the International Committee of the Red Cross, after one Lebanese man was released earlier. Israel said the five people had not been found to have ties to militant groups, while a Lebanese committee says Israel has detained dozens of people inside Lebanon over the past six months.

The ridge matters because it sits in an area that has remained militarily sensitive even after the ceasefire. Control of elevated ground can affect surveillance, movement and access across a wider stretch of territory, which helps explain why the site has been repeatedly described as strategically important. The latest claim also underlines how fragile the situation remains along the border, where military activity has continued despite diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions.

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The broader conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has been shaped by repeated cross-border fighting and by the group's long-standing military infrastructure in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials have said Hezbollah used underground positions and weapons stores in the area, while Hezbollah has said it would resist any Israeli assault. The current campaign, which Israel says began in March, has widened its footprint in the south and added pressure to already strained local conditions.

What remains unclear is the full extent of the fighting at the ridge, the number of fighters involved and whether the area will remain under uninterrupted Israeli control. Hezbollah has not publicly responded to the latest Israeli statement, and independent verification of the military claims has not been provided. The next developments to watch are whether the ceasefire framework holds, whether detainee releases continue and whether the situation on the ridge prompts any further escalation.

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