Ali Taher Ridge was IDF's most complex battle terrain yet, special forces Egoz chief tells 'Post'
The Egoz Special Forces commander told the Post that the battle to control Lebanon's Ali Taher Ridge was the military's most complex recent battles.
The Ali Taher Ridge battle, reported by The Jerusalem Post on September 3, 2026, proved to be the most challenging terrain the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had encountered in the past three years. The IDF's Egoz Special Forces were tasked with capturing the ridge situated at the edge of their zone in southern Lebanon.
Lt.-Col. M, the commander of Egoz Special Forces, described the operation as multifaceted, highlighting the arduous ascent of a 600-meter-high ridge with few paths. He explained that this made it simpler for Hezbollah to plant booby traps on access routes leading to their underground lair.
Furthermore, he stated that the IDF faced an unprecedented amount of explosive drones targeting the Egoz special forces. The area near Hezbollah's lair and inside it was covered in surveillance cameras and a variety of explosive devices, designed to make any intruder believe they were safe after bypassing one, only to fall victim to the next.
The steep terrain presented another significant challenge. Both Lt.-Col. M and Yahalom Tunnel Special Forces Captain D emphasized the formidable boulders present in the topography, which required the IDF to clear the way for additional forces and ultimately destroy the entire complex.
Lastly, both commanders highlighted Iran's substantial contributions to the technological and tactical construction of the complex, making it unique in southern Lebanon.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
