Beirut (HRNW)- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has threatened to “eliminate” anyone approaching Ali al-Tahir hill in southern Lebanon, saying Israeli forces are preparing to consolidate their control over the strategically important area.
According to reports, Katz claimed that Israeli forces had killed Hezbollah fighters in the area and destroyed the group’s underground infrastructure. He said Israel would not allow Hezbollah or any other group to re-establish a presence there.
Ali al-Tahir hill is a strategically significant location overlooking a wide area of southern Lebanon, including the city of Nabatieh. Israeli officials have claimed that their forces established “operational control” over the area following recent military operations.
Israeli authorities also said a Hezbollah underground network extending more than two kilometers was located beneath the hill, including command centers, weapons depots, and other military installations. Israel maintains that the network has been destroyed.
Israel considers Ali al-Tahir hill part of its self-designated “security zone,” while Lebanese authorities have repeatedly objected to the presence of Israeli troops in Lebanese territory.
A ceasefire framework established in June called for a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese army in the area. However, progress on the withdrawal process has stalled.
Katz’s latest warning comes amid continued tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, with the Ali al-Tahir area emerging as a key focal point in the ongoing confrontation.
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