Katz Threatens to 'Eliminate' Anyone Approaching Ali al-Tahir Heights in Southern Lebanon

He claimed that the Israeli army 'eliminated militants and destroyed Hezbollah tunnels' in the heights, adding that it 'is operationally prepared to take control of them and prevent any attempt by Hezbollah or any other party to return and establish themselves there.'

Katz asserted that Ali al-Tahir Heights are 'part of the Yellow Line and Israel's security zone in Lebanon,' which he claimed covers an area of 700 square kilometers.

He added: 'As I and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have explained, we will not move from the security zone, and the army will not withdraw or redeploy until Hezbollah is disarmed throughout Lebanon.'

There was no immediate comment from Lebanese authorities or Hezbollah on Katz's remarks.

On Thursday evening, the Israeli army carried out a violent explosion in Ali al-Tahir Heights, causing what resembled an earthquake.

The army claimed it targeted a network of tunnels and infrastructure belonging to 'Hezbollah' that were over two kilometers long.

On Thursday, Netanyahu claimed that Israel had destroyed what he described as the 'largest Iranian site outside Iran,' referring to the Ali al-Tahir Heights tunnels.

Ali al-Tahir Hill is located between the towns of Kafr Tibnit and Nabatiyah al-Fawqa, north of the Litani River, and stands at about 600 meters above sea level, giving it geographical and military importance as it overlooks large areas of southern Lebanon.

On September 3, Netanyahu claimed that the Israeli army had completed an operation he described as 'clearing Ali Taher Heights.'

These claims from Netanyahu and his camp come about 45 days before the Knesset elections scheduled for October 27, amid his efforts to market'military victories' that strengthen his electoral position and maintain the cohesion of the right-wing camp, in light of polls that do not guarantee him a majority that would enable him to form a government.

In this context, the presentation of Ali al-Tahir Heights as a'strategic achievement' is inseparable from Netanyahu's electoral propaganda, while keeping the Lebanese, Gaza, and Syrian fronts open to escalation, pleasing his partners and his more hardline base.

Observers believe that Netanyahu's government seeks to turn the control of the heights into an image of victory that can be marketed to voters, to compensate for the lack of a clear resolution on other fronts, while the Prime Minister works to unite the right-wing parties and prevent the dispersion of their votes before the elections.

It is worth noting that Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement in Washington on June 26, under US sponsorship, which includes a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, in conjunction with the deployment of the Lebanese army, while subsequent rounds focused on the mechanisms for implementing the agreement and completing the withdrawal.

Earlier, Hebrew media reported that Israel does not intend to withdraw from the Ali al-Tahir Heights area, despite US pressure to continue the withdrawal, in a position that contradicts the negotiation process sponsored by Washington.

Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some of which have been there for decades and others since its aggression on Lebanon, which lasted between 2023 and 2024, while it has expanded its occupation within Lebanese territory during its current aggression.