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Iran has conveyed to the United States that a direct Israeli assault on the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, where Iranian and Hezbollah forces are stationed, would provoke a substantial Iranian counterattack, according to three regional officials. The warning was delivered last month and underscores Iran's ongoing direct involvement in the conflict in southern Lebanon, as well as its readiness to respond to Israeli attacks in the region, as the seventh month of the regional war progresses.

Hezbollah is believed to have established an underground command center and weapons storage within the Ali al-Taher ridge, which provides a strategic vantage point over southeastern Lebanon and has become a focal point of contention in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Hezbollah has asserted control over the hill and vowed to counter any Israeli advances, referring to the facility as a "facility," though specifics have not been disclosed.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have occupied portions of the land south of the ridge and have designated the ridge as a primary operational priority. Iran's message to Washington threatens that any significant Israeli offensive on the ridge will be met with a large-scale Iranian retaliation, according to the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Hezbollah has not commented on whether Iranian forces are present at Ali al-Taher. When asked about the message or whether the US had exerted pressure on Israel to refrain from attacking Ali al-Taher, a White House official stated that the information was inaccurate. No immediate statements were provided by Iran's permanent mission in Geneva, the US Defense Department, or Oman's foreign ministry.

Two of the officials, who were briefed by Tehran, stated that the message was delivered through Oman, which has served as a mediator. One regional official, a foreign official with direct knowledge of the message, mentioned that it was relayed around mid-August, resulting in Israel delaying its plan to storm Ali al-Taher due to US pressure.

Hezbollah's media office neither confirmed nor denied Iran's warning but indicated that it was a "natural conclusion" that such a message would be sent regarding the ridge. Iran considers any Israeli ground movement in southern Lebanon, particularly territorial expansion, a significant violation of the June US-Iran memorandum of understanding that included a Lebanon ceasefire.

In June, Iran launched missile attacks towards Israel in response to attacks on Hezbollah around Beirut's outskirts. Despite a ceasefire announced in June, Israel has reported that Hezbollah continues to operate around the ridge, twice launching explosive drones towards Israeli troops near the area in the past week. In July, Israel claimed it had carried out an airstrike on a Hezbollah fighter near an access shaft to the underground site at Ali al-Taher and vowed not to allow Hezbollah to operate in the area or threaten Israeli soldiers.