In a statement, the military said it was working to "neutralize" the tunnel network.

According to the military, Israeli troops had gained control of the ridge above and below ground, killing several Hezbollah members. It said the underground complex contained facilities including command centers, weapons storage rooms and living quarters, claiming that the infrastructure had been built over two decades with Iranian funding.

The development came amid continued tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border, following the seventh round of Lebanese-Israeli talks held in Rome, Italy, in early August. The talks focused on security arrangements along the border and the implementation of a framework agreement between the two sides.

The Ali al-Taher ridge, about 15 km from the Israeli border, has become a major flashpoint in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Israeli forces remain deployed in parts of southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire and Lebanese demands for their withdrawal.

A photograph taken from the southern Lebanese area of Nabatieh shows smoke as it rises from the site of Israeli strikes that targeted the hilltops of the mountainous area of the strategic Ali al-Taher Ridge on August 14, 2026. Lebanon became embroiled in the Middle East war after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel on March 2, prompting a widespread Israeli bombing campaign and ground invasion. More than 4,300 people have been killed, though violence has decreased since a US-Iran deal and a Washington-sponsored framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel went into force. (Photo by AFP) /