Months after ceasefire, Israel and Hezbollah battle over a strategic
hill in Lebanon
[September 05, 2026]
By BASSEM MROUE
BEIRUT (AP) — Since a ceasefire went into effect between Israel and
Hezbollah more than two months ago, fighting has stopped in much of
Lebanon, but not on a strategic hill overlooking parts of a main
southern city.
In recent weeks, Ali Taher hill has been the scene of daily shelling and
airstrikes by Israel’s military. Hezbollah, a militant group backed by
Iran, has repeatedly attacked Israeli forces in the area with drones.
The United States, which is mediating talks between Lebanon and Israel,
had wanted Hezbollah to hand over the hill to the Lebanese army as part
of larger plan to disarm the militant group and dismantle its
infrastructure. But Hezbollah has refused.
Lebanon and Israel reached a framework agreement in June stating Israel
will withdraw from Lebanon as Hezbollah is disarmed. The militant group
was not a party to the negotiations and has rejected calls to disarm in
areas north of the Litani river, which is where Ali Taher is located.
A full-on battle over this hill near the city of Nabatiyeh could
escalate fighting across the country, and unrest in Lebanon complicates
efforts to resolve the war in Iran.
On Thursday night, Israel’s military announced it had taken “operational
control” of Ali Taher and a network of tunnels beneath it that Hezbollah
uses to shelter its fighters and weapons. It is unclear how far Israel's
control extends. Just before Israel's announcement, its air force was
still targeting the hill, according to Lebanese state media.
There has been no official statement from Hezbollah since Israel's
announcement.
US pushes Lebanon to pressure Hezbollah
Hezbollah firmly rejected a proposal from the Lebanese government to
hand over Ali Taher to the country's army. It fears Israel would then
seize control of the hill from the Lebanese army and then demand the
handover of more territory.
Israel had occupied Ali Taher for 18 years before it withdrew from
Lebanon in 2000.
The hill has a strategic location overlooking several villages as well
as main roads leading to Nabatiyeh. Losing full control of it would
disrupt Hezbollah’s presence and supply lines in the area.
The Israeli military says the site is also important to Hezbollah
because of tunnels it built there, with funding from Iran.
Israel said in its statement Thursday that the hill housed underground
command centers, weapons storage rooms, generators, living quarters,
showers and a kitchen. Israel said it cleared Ali Taher of Hezbollah
fighters and was working to “neutralize underground infrastructure
sites.”
Hezbollah legislator Ihab Hamadeh questioned why the Israeli military
was still attacking the hill if it was really in control of the area,
according to the Arabic-language version of Russia’s state-funded news
outlet Sputnik. An Associated Press photographer who visited the nearby
village of Kfar Rumman on Friday saw no sign of Israeli military
presence on the hill.
The hill, topped with a shrine to a Muslim scholar, sits north of the
Litani river, which has become the de facto boundary of the area
captured by Israel since its latest war with Hezbollah began in early
March.
Fighting in the area has heated up in recent weeks
Israel has been conducting military operations around Ali Taher since
July, said Nasser Khdour, a Middle East researcher at the Armed Conflict
Location & Event Data Project, or ACLED, a U.S.-based group that tracks
conflicts around the world.
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Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qamati told a Lebanese podcaster in late
August that the group’s fighters were repelling attempts by Israeli
troops to take Ali Taher. But he, and others, downplayed the
significance of the site should Israel take it.
“Ali Taher is important, but if it is lost it does not mean the end
of Hezbollah,” Qamati said.
In mid-August, Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on southern
Lebanon that it described as retaliation for a Hezbollah drone
attack on Ali Taher that seriously wounded three soldiers. The
Israeli strikes, which killed 11 people, including women and
children, were the deadliest since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire went
into effect in late June.
On Aug. 27, Israel carried out a series of airstrikes, killing one
person and wounding six, after the military said Hezbollah fired two
explosive drones at Israeli troops in the area. Hezbollah did not
claim responsibility for any of the attacks.
Lebanon says Israel is hindering its army
Lebanon’s Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri told an Arab TV station
in late August that the Lebanese army was ready to take over Ali
Taher.
He accused Israel of blocking the army due to its own political
considerations ahead of Israeli national elections on Oct. 27.
“The problem is not in the Lebanese army’s readiness but in Israel’s
stance,” he said.
Lebanese and Israeli officials are set to meet for negotiations in
Rome later this month. Meanwhile, Hezbollah, which has always
refused to speak directly to the U.S., appears to be changing its
policy after the major setbacks it has suffered during its wars with
Israel since 2024.
A Lebanese official told The Associated Press that indirect contacts
are going on between the U.S. and Hezbollah, but refused to give any
details. He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with
regulations.
The U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, said recently that
Washington is ready to speak with Hezbollah if the group agrees to
disarm.
Still, Hezbollah is not likely to take any move forward regarding
talks with the U.S. without a green light from its main backer,
Iran. While talks with the U.S. over their war have stalled, Iran
has sought guarantees that Israel will halt its attacks on Hezbollah
as part of any permanent deal.
Capture of Ali Taher could lead Israel to other Hezbollah
strongholds
The capture of Ali Taher would open the way to Nabatiyeh and also
lead to the nearby Apple Province and Rihan Mountain, where
Hezbollah has been building 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. He said clearing these sites
helps Israel protect towns in the northern part of its country, and
increases pressure on Hezbollah.
“This will strengthen Israel’s position in any future negotiations
over its withdrawal,” said Khdour.
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