Israel says it destroyed Hezbollah base in Lebanon’s Ali al-Taher ridge

Israeli forces demolished key tunnels constructed by Iran-backed Hezbollah beneath the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, causing a 4.1 magnitude tremor, according to Israeli officials. The Israeli Defence Minister and Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the destruction in a joint statement, stating that these tunnels had been in place for two decades and were funded by Iran.

The tremor was heard by Agence France-Presse journalists in the area, who also witnessed several explosions in the video shared by Katz. The Israeli army reported that the Hezbollah infrastructure extended for over 2km, containing numerous Iranian-made rockets, missiles, UAVs, machine guns, anti-tank missiles, and explosive devices, including a Hezbollah command center.

Israeli troops have been occupying part of southern Lebanon, aiming to establish a "security zone" to prevent attacks from the north. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that the explosion caused tremors and a powerful rumble. Joelle Fares, a recent resident of Majayoun, described the shaking as "everything shook."

Israel had announced the capture of the Ali al-Taher ridge last week, seized Hezbollah's underground compound, and seized numerous explosive devices. Some Hezbollah militants had abandoned the area, while others were eliminated by aerial strikes and artillery fire. The destruction completed Israel's operational control over the ridge, both above and below ground.

Since March, Israeli strikes have killed over 4,300 people, and Israeli forces continue to occupy the southern "security zone."