Katz threatens to eliminate anyone who approaches Ali al-Tahir Heights in Lebanon - Sarmad

Israeli Defense Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to eliminate anyone who approaches the Ali al-Tahir heights in southern Lebanon, claiming that the military is preparing to take operational control of the area.

In a statement issued by his office, Ben-Gvir said, “Anyone who approaches the Ali al-Tahir heights will be eliminated,” adding that “the Israeli military has eliminated militants and destroyed Hezbollah tunnels in the heights.”

He continued: “The military is operationally preparing to take control of the area and prevent any attempt by Hezbollah or any other party to return and station forces there,” asserting that the Ali al-Tahir heights are “part of the Yellow Line and the Israeli security zone in Lebanon,” which he claimed covers an area of 700 square kilometers.

He added: “As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have clarified, we will not move from the security zone, and the military will not withdraw or redeploy until Hezbollah is disarmed throughout Lebanon.” No immediate comment was issued by Lebanese authorities or Hezbollah in response to Ben-Gvir’s remarks.

On Thursday evening, the Israeli military carried out a violent explosion at the Ali al-Tahir heights, causing an earthquake-like tremor. The Israeli military claimed it targeted a network of tunnels and infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah, stretching over two kilometers.

Netanyahu claimed that Israel destroyed what he described as “the largest Iranian site outside Iran,” referring to the Ali al-Tahir tunnels.

The Ali al-Tahir hill is located between the towns of Kafr Kila and Nabatiyeh al-Fawqa, north of the Litani River. It rises approximately 600 meters above sea level, giving it strategic and military significance as it overlooks vast areas of southern Lebanon.