Israel said on Friday that it had established operational control over the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, after weeks of military operations and strikes in the area. Analysts said the claimed control of the strategically important high ground could give Israel greater leverage in negotiations with Lebanon planned for later this month.
Military activity and attacks are continuing despite a June ceasefire agreement, according to the factual account. The claim remains part of a wider dispute over Israeli operations, Hezbollah’s presence and the proposed creation of pilot zones where the Lebanese Army would disarm Hezbollah.
Why Ali al-Taher matters militarily
The Ali al-Taher ridge forms part of a wider area that includes the Qantara mountain range. Analysts said its elevation gives views over nearby regions, including the southern city of Nabatieh, and makes it significant to both Israel and Hezbollah.
Nicholas Blanford of the Atlantic Council said the location overlooks Nabatieh, Marjayoun, Khiam, Shebaa and part of the occupied Golan Heights. He said it was credible that Hezbollah had a large bunker complex inside the hill, while Israel has described underground facilities there as including tunnels, operations rooms, weapons stores and fighter living quarters.
A dispute over the proposed pilot zones
Israel and Lebanon began US-mediated direct negotiations in April, despite Hezbollah’s opposition to direct talks. A framework announced in late June proposed pilot zones intended to end the fighting and allow the Lebanese Army to disarm Hezbollah in designated areas.
The two governments have not agreed on how to implement that plan. Lebanon wants pilot zones in areas where Israeli forces are operating so they can withdraw, while Israel is seeking zones in places where its troops are not currently operating. David Wood of the International Crisis Group said the talks had reached an impasse because Lebanon says Israel has not withdrawn from areas it directly occupies, while Israel says it will not withdraw until Hezbollah disarms. For additional context, see “Four killed and 20 wounded in southern Lebanon air attacks”.
What analysts expect on the ground
Blanford said Israel might not try to hold the ridge permanently because it would need to seize higher ground to the north and northeast to protect the position from Hezbollah attacks. He said Israel could instead destroy parts of the site and pull back to ground that is easier to defend, though the factual account does not establish that this will happen.
The current escalation follows years of fighting. The latest war began on October 8, 2023, after Hezbollah attacked Israel following the start of Israel’s war on Gaza. Israel intensified its campaign in September 2024, and a November 2024 ceasefire was followed by repeated violations. Hezbollah later resumed attacks in response to the US-Israeli war with Iran, after which Israel re-invaded Lebanon and expanded attacks across the country.
What happens next
The Israel-Lebanon negotiations are planned to resume later this month, while Lebanese officials continue to pursue the framework agreement and Israel says it is failing. Talks are also taking place ahead of elections in Israel next month, which analyst Bassel Doueik identified as a central factor in the negotiations.
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