Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli military was preparing to establish operational control over Ali al-Taher Heights in southern Lebanon, saying the move aimed to prevent Hezbollah or other groups from re-establishing their presence in the area.
Katz links withdrawal to Hezbollah disarmament
In remarks to Israel’s public broadcaster, Katz described the heights as part of Israel’s “security zone” and warned that anyone approaching them would be targeted. He also linked the withdrawal or redeployment of Israeli forces to Hezbollah being disarmed across Lebanon.
In a statement on Friday, Katz said Israeli forces were ready to continue their campaign and strike Hezbollah at additional sites, after Israel said an operation had destroyed extensive underground infrastructure it attributed to the group at Ali al-Taher Hill.
Israel cites security zone and pressure on the ground
Katz said Israeli forces had established what he called a “strong security zone” to protect residents of northern Israel from attacks and direct shelling, maintain control and exert pressure on Hezbollah inside Lebanese territory. Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said any attack on residential communities in northern Israel or on the forces assigned to protect them would face an immediate and forceful response.
Referring to negotiations between Israel and Lebanon over the possible deployment of the Lebanese army in parts of the south under the framework agreement between the two countries, Zamir called on the Lebanese army to prove its effectiveness on the ground, saying progress on the agreement was linked to that.
The Israeli military said last week that it had taken control of Ali al-Taher Heights, north of the Litani River, on the edge of an area in southern Lebanon controlled by Israeli forces. Israel accuses Hezbollah of digging tunnels in the area and using them to launch drones and missiles at Israeli military positions in southern Lebanon and at northern Israel.
The Middle East war extended to Lebanon on March 2, after Hezbollah launched missiles at Israel in response to the killing of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Israeli forces took control in late May of the historic Beaufort Castle, located a few kilometers from the Ali al-Taher area.
