Netanyahu: IDF Achieved Victory Over Hezbollah in Lebanon

The Prime Minister's remarks | Watch (Photo: Roi Avraham/GPO, Sound: Yehezkel Kandil/GPO)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that the IDF has achieved "another huge victory over Hezbollah" with the destruction of the terror organization's major fortress on the Beaufort Ridge and Ali Taher Ridge. The announcement follows the completion of a large-scale IDF operation in the area that lasted approximately three months.

"We have achieved another huge victory over Hezbollah," Netanyahu stated. "We destroyed its major terror fortress on the Beaufort Ridge and the Ali Taher Ridge." The Prime Minister made clear that Israeli policy is unambiguous: "We will continue to destroy the terror infrastructure in the security zone in Lebanon. We will continue to remove every threat to the State of Israel."

Netanyahu issued a sharp warning to Israel's enemies: "If you haven't learned the lesson by now, and you decide to attack us again, you will absorb even heavier blows. There is still work to complete, and with G-d's help we will complete it."

Forces from Division 36, the Commando Brigade, and the Yahalom unit completed a complex operation on the Ali Taher Ridge, during which they detonated more than 1,100 tons of explosives. During the operation, the forces destroyed the headquarters of Hezbollah's Badr unit and eliminated numerous terrorists who had fortified themselves in deep terror tunnels.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir visited Division 36 following completion of the operation. "Tonight we destroyed the underground terror infrastructure on the Ali Taher Ridge, continuing the neutralization of the tunnel network on the Beaufort Ridge," Zamir reported. "This is part of a massive system dug over years with enormous investment, Hezbollah's central command, control, and combat infrastructure, built with Iranian assistance."

According to the Chief of Staff, among other findings, IDF forces located advanced weaponry of Iranian manufacture inside the sites, intended to strike IDF forces and northern communities. Zamir clarified that following Hamas's attack on October 7th, it was Hezbollah that initiated and opened war against Israel on the northern front.

The operation on the Ali Taher Ridge was among the most complex the IDF has executed in recent years. Forces crossed the Litani River via a flanking and concealed axis, while Hezbollah was convinced the IDF intended to cross elsewhere. Golani reconnaissance fighters cleared the area before attacking the "Chotzev Lehavot" infrastructure from the rear, and Hezbollah was struck with shock.

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the IDF is operationally prepared to control the ridge and prevent any attempt by Hezbollah or any other entity to return and establish itself there. "Whoever approaches the Ali Taher Ridge will be destroyed," Katz made clear.

According to the Defense Minister, the Ali Taher Ridge is part of the Yellow Line and Israel's security zone in Lebanon, which encompasses 700 square kilometers from the Mediterranean coast in the west through the Beaufort fortress and the Hermon area in the east. "As PM Netanyahu and I have clarified many times: we are not moving from the security zone, and the IDF will not withdraw and will not redeploy until Hezbollah is disarmed of its weapons throughout all of Lebanon," Katz announced.

The Chief of Staff directed a sharp warning to villages in southern Lebanon: "Any village in which terror infrastructure is established and in which terrorists are present, endangers itself. See what happened in Kantara and Majdal Zoun: entire villages were damaged because terror infrastructure was built beneath civilian homes."