Israeli forces conducted extensive overnight operations in the Ali Taher ridge area after three soldiers were seriously wounded by a Hezbollah explosive drone
Lebanese sources reported extensive Israeli strikes overnight Saturday into Sunday targeting the Ali Taher ridge area in southern Lebanon. Footage circulating from Lebanon showed multiple explosions and heavy smoke rising from the strike zones.
The military activity followed advance notification by the Israel Defense Forces to residents of Kiryat Shmona and Galilee communities that explosions would be heard during the night as part of planned operational activity.
"Residents of Kiryat Shmona and Galilee communities: during the night, explosion sounds are expected to be heard in the Galilee area as part of initiated and planned activity by our forces," the IDF announcement stated. The message added that the public would be updated if the situation changed or if special instructions became necessary.
The widespread operations came against the backdrop of escalating tensions with Hezbollah, which intensified following a serious incident at the Ali Taher ridge. Around 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning, an explosive drone launched by the terror organization struck a Commando Brigade force operating in the area. An officer and two soldiers were seriously wounded and evacuated to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa. One of the wounded soldiers later stabilized, while two others remained sedated in intensive care.
Following the attack, the IDF responded by striking a series of Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including infrastructure in the Nabatieh area and an organizational headquarters in the Ansar region.
During the Ansar strike, Ali Samir al-Haj Hassan, a battalion commander in Hezbollah's Radwan Force, was eliminated. The IDF reported that additional operatives involved in promoting terror activities against Israeli forces in the area were also killed in the strike.
Reports later indicated that members of Hassan's family were harmed in the attack. The IDF clarified that they were not the target of the operation and that the Hezbollah commander had been with them inside a military headquarters belonging to the organization.
With the latest wave of overnight strikes, tensions remain high in the sector and northern communities remain on alert.
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