Israeli army says it completed clearing Hezbollah underground infrastructure on Ali al-Taher Heights

Israeli army spokesperson Ella Waweya said Thursday that the Israeli military had completed clearing underground infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah in the Ali al-Taher Heights area in southern Lebanon and was working to neutralize it.

In a post on X, Waweya said forces from the 36th Division had recently cleared two underground routes in the Ali al-Taher Heights area, which is located within what Israel calls the “security zone.”

She said the forces had established operational control over the area both above and below ground and cleared it of militants, some of whom were killed while others fled.

“Activity aimed at neutralizing the underground infrastructure that was cleared of militants is still ongoing,” Waweya said, adding that once the operation is completed, the Israeli army will redeploy defensively based on its assessment of the situation.

Waweya said militants inside the underground infrastructure had planned attacks against Israel and its military. She said the operations conducted in the tunnels in recent weeks had neutralized their ability to carry out attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers from those routes.

According to Waweya, the underground facilities contained command rooms, weapons rooms, generator rooms, living quarters, showers and a kitchen, allowing militants to remain there and conduct combat operations for extended periods.

She described the network as “strategic infrastructure” built over two decades and said it had been funded and planned by Iran.

“The Israeli army will continue operating to clear the security zone in southern Lebanon and will not allow Hezbollah to advance plans to carry out attacks against it,” Waweya said.

She added that any attempt by Hezbollah to conduct activity against the Israeli army would be met with force, while reiterating that the military remains committed to the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.