Israel intensifies south Lebanon campaign as Ali al-Taher emerges as key challenge

Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian 

The Israeli army has launched a broad campaign to accelerate the destruction of what it describes as Hezbollah strongholds and infrastructure in southern Lebanon, including the construction of new routes that Tel Aviv claims will protect troops and facilitate the delivery of supplies.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military has intensified its attacks on Ali al-Taher Hill, which it considers its biggest challenge, particularly as it insists on remaining in the area until, according to its claims, tunnels are cleared of Hezbollah members and personnel from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Officers in the Northern Command claimed to have discovered sites indicating that thousands of armed fighters had remained in the area for extended periods, as well as weapons depots, command-and-control rooms, observation posts and launch platforms. 

Israeli military officials also accused the Lebanese army of failing to carry out its duties related to dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure.

Amid intensified strikes on Lebanon and threats by Israeli officials directed at Syria and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Israeli officials warned that decisions made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz on these two fronts are being used as an electoral tool to boost the popularity of Netanyahu and his party ahead of the upcoming elections.

Opinion polls, they said, indicate that the gap between Netanyahu and his strongest rival, former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, is widening in Eisenkot’s favor.