Strategic Hill Battle

Israel and Hezbollah battle over a strategic hill in southern Lebanon

Israel and Hezbollah are fighting over a strategic hill in Lebanon, Ali Taher, which has been the subject of daily shelling and airstrikes. The United States, which is mediating talks between Lebanon and Israel, had wanted Hezbollah to hand over the hill as part of a plan to disarm the militant group and dismantle its infrastructure. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has consistently attacked Israeli forces in the area with drones. Israel's military has taken "operational control" of Ali Tahed and a network of tunnels beneath it, which Hezbollah uses to shelter its fighters and weapons. The Israeli military says the hill is also important to Hezbollah due to its tunnels it built there, funded by Iran. The conflict could escalate fighting across Lebanon and complicate efforts to resolve the Iran-Lebanon war.