Israeli explosions in Mansouri (Sour). (Credit: Courtesy of Muntasser Abdallah/L'Orient Today)
Israel said Friday it used more than 1,100 tons of explosives to destroy an underground Hezbollah network beneath the Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, with debris blocking a road and dust blanketing nearby villages in the Marjayoun district.
The blasts also severely damaged the ridge’s vegetation, with large sections of the landscape destroyed after weeks of Israeli shelling and explosions. Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir visited the “36th Division’s operational zone” in occupied southern Lebanon on Friday, a day after Israeli forces destroyed the tunnels and withdrew several kilometers south.
The Ali Taher ridge lies within the area referred to by Israel as the “buffer zone.” “The Yellow Line remains entirely under our control, unchanged,” Zamir said, referring to the line marking the occupied zone in southern Lebanon.
“Last night, we destroyed the underground terrorist infrastructure beneath Ali al-Taher, Hezbollah’s primary command, control, and combat infrastructure, built with Iranian support,” Zamir said.
'Around 50 Hezbollah fighters were inside the tunnels'
The Israeli army said its forces used “more than 1,100 tons of explosives” to destroy the underground network, which it said comprised eight tunnels stretching more than 5,400 meters. The army said the operation to take control of the ridge lasted three months and followed the capture of Beaufort Castle at the end of May.
It also said around 50 Hezbollah fighters were inside the tunnels, most of whom were killed inside the network or while attempting to escape. Some managed to flee, it said. The claims could not be independently verified. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Friday that Israel was prepared to continue striking Hezbollah, "including in other locations," according to AFP. Additionally, After destroying the tunnels, Israeli forces withdrew from the ridge and redeployed farther south toward the Beaufort area, according to Israeli radio station GLZ’s military correspondent.
The Israeli army said the "Yellow Line" remained unchanged and that the ridge would continue to be controlled remotely through fire and observation.
Blasts destroy vegetation, block road
The scale of Thursday night’s explosions was visible across the surrounding area Friday morning. Residents documented extensive damage to the Ali Taher heights, with large sections of vegetation destroyed across an area stretching for an estimated two kilometers.
Rocks and soil from the blasts blocked the road between Kfar Tibnit and Khardali, our correspondent in southern Lebanon said. Villages in the Marjayoun district were also covered in dust and debris, according to the National News Agency, with photos showing vehicles coated in orange-colored dust. Some debris reached homes, prompting residents to call on the South Lebanon Water Establishment to provide water for cleaning. The area’s remaining inhabited villages include Deir Mimas, Burj al-Muluk, Qlaya, Jdeidet Marjayoun, Bouwaida, Debbine, Blat and Ibl al-Saqi.
Israeli attacks continue across the South
Israeli forces also continued military operations in several southern areas on Friday. In Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun), an Israeli Merkava tank shelled the town as Israeli forces moved along its northern outskirts in the Wadi al-Jamal area, according to our correspondent.
In Mansouri (Sour), Israeli forces carried out four explosions and shelled the town with artillery, and Israeli military vehicles were also spotted moving in the Rabeh neighborhood of the town. Israeli artillery also targeted Nabatieh Fawqa, while an Israeli drone dropped a sound bomb over Hadatha (Bint Jbeil). Artillery shelling also targeted the town of Khiam (Marjayoun) and the outskirts of Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya). Artillery shelling also targeted the town of Khiam (Marjayoun) and the outskirts of Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya).
Earlier in the morning, Israeli artillery shelled Beit Yahoun (Bint Jbeil) with four shells, while military vehicles were seen moving in Wadi Slouqi and artillery fire targeted Wadi Hujeir (Marjayoun). Artillery shelling also targeted the town of Khiam (Marjayoun) and the outskirts of Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya). Artillery shelling also targeted the Ali Taher heights.
Reporting contributed by our correspondent in southern Lebanon, Muntasser Abdallah
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