Israel and Hezbollah Clash Over Strategic Hill in Lebanon Despite Ceasefire
More than two months after a ceasefire took effect between Israel and Hezbollah, a strategic hill overlooking the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh has become the focal point of renewed daily fighting. The Ali Taher hill has seen repeated Israeli airstrikes and shelling, while Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, has launched drone attacks on Israeli forces in the area.
The United States, which is mediating talks between Lebanon and Israel, had hoped Hezbollah would hand over the hill to the Lebanese army as part of a broader plan to disarm the group. Hezbollah has refused, complicating efforts to maintain stability in the region.
What is the significance of Ali Taher hill?
Ali Taher holds strategic importance because it overlooks several villages and main roads leading to Nabatiyeh, a key city in southern Lebanon. The hill also sits north of the Litani River, which has become the de facto boundary of the area captured by Israel since the latest war began in early March. Israel occupied the hill for 18 years before withdrawing from Lebanon in 2000.
The Israeli military says the site is vital to Hezbollah due to an extensive network of tunnels built beneath it, reportedly funded by Iran. Israel announced on Thursday night that it had taken operational control of the hill and the tunnel network, which it says housed underground command centers, weapons storage rooms, generators, living quarters, and other facilities. Israeli forces say they have cleared the area of Hezbollah fighters and are working to neutralize the underground infrastructure.
Why has the fighting around Ali Taher intensified?
Israel has been conducting military operations around Ali Taher since July, according to Nasser Khdour, a Middle East researcher at the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). Hezbollah officials have acknowledged the importance of the site but downplayed the impact of its potential loss.
“Ali Taher is important, but if it is lost it does not mean the end of Hezbollah,” said Mahmoud Qamati, a Hezbollah official, in late August.
In mid-August, Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on southern Lebanon, killing 11 people including women and children, in what it described as retaliation for a Hezbollah drone attack that seriously wounded three Israeli soldiers. These were the deadliest strikes since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect in late June. Further airstrikes on Aug. 27 killed one person and wounded six after Israel said Hezbollah fired two explosive drones at its troops.
What is Lebanon's position on the hill?
Lebanon's Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri has stated that the Lebanese army is ready to take over Ali Taher, but accused Israel of blocking this move due to political considerations ahead of Israeli national elections scheduled for Oct. 27.
“The problem is not in the Lebanese army's readiness but in Israel's stance,” Mitri told an Arab TV station.
Hezbollah has firmly rejected a proposal from the Lebanese government to hand over the hill to the army, fearing Israel would then seize control and demand more territory. The group fears losing full control would disrupt its presence and supply lines in the area.
Could the capture of Ali Taher lead to further escalation?
The capture of Ali Taher could open the way to Nabatiyeh and nearby areas where Hezbollah has built up its presence since the late 1990s. Israeli leaders have repeatedly pledged to leave troops in Lebanon and threatened to escalate military pressure until Hezbollah disarms.
“Israeli control of the area is an operational and military setback for Hezbollah,” said Khdour of ACLED. “This will strengthen Israel's position in any future negotiations over its withdrawal.”
Lebanese and Israeli officials are set to meet for negotiations in Rome later this month. Meanwhile, Hezbollah appears to be reconsidering its policy of refusing to speak directly with the U.S., after suffering major setbacks in its wars with Israel since 2024. A Lebanese official told The Associated Press that indirect contacts are underway between the U.S. and Hezbollah, though no details were provided.
The U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, said Washington is ready to speak with Hezbollah if the group agrees to disarm. However, Hezbollah is unlikely to move forward with any talks without approval from its main backer, Iran, which has sought guarantees that Israel will halt its attacks as part of any permanent deal.
What does this mean for regional stability?
The ongoing battle over Ali Taher underscores the fragility of the ceasefire and the challenges facing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. The situation remains tense, with no official statement from Hezbollah since Israel's announcement of operational control. An Associated Press photographer who visited the nearby village of Kfar Rumman on Friday saw no sign of Israeli military presence on the hill, raising questions about the extent of Israel's control.
The outcome of the Rome negotiations and the upcoming Israeli elections will likely shape the next phase of this conflict. For now, the strategic hill remains a flashpoint that could escalate fighting across the region if not resolved through careful diplomacy.