Battle for Ali Taher in Lebanon: could it trigger a war between Israel and Iran

The IDF has besieged a Hezbollah underground command post on the Ali Taher ridge in Lebanon, where dozens of militants and Iranian advisers are trapped. Israel is in no rush to storm the complex, fearing the deaths of Iranian officers could provoke a direct strike from Tehran and regional escalation. Behind the scenes, secret negotiations are underway.

The IDF has besieged a Hezbollah underground command complex on the Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon. Estimates suggest that between 20 and 40 Hezbollah fighters and commanders, along with several dozen Iranian "advisers," most of them IRGC officers, are trapped in the tunnels. Israeli forces control the main approaches to the complex and most of the shafts but are not rushing to clear it. Ynet military analyst Ron Ben-Yishai explains that a forceful clearance and the deaths of dozens of Iranian soldiers could provoke a new Iranian strike on Israel and lead to regional escalation. Therefore, Israel prefers a siege tactic, while secret negotiations are underway behind the scenes for a possible solution. The Ali Taher ridge, about 600 meters high, is located in the Nabatieh district, north of the Litani River, 12-15 km from the Israeli border. It controls roads to the strategic Nabatieh plateau. The IDF has deployed units of the 36th Division to capture the outskirts of Nabatieh and the ridge. The siege has been ongoing for about ten weeks. Five IDF soldiers have been killed and 21 wounded in the fighting. Hezbollah losses exceed 20 people. Ben-Yishai notes that overly aggressive actions could trigger a regional "butterfly effect" that neither side wants. President Trump is also not interested in escalation ahead of the midterm elections. US pressure is forcing the IDF to act cautiously.