Iran warns of retaliation if Israel attacks Lebanon ridge
Tehran sent message via Oman as settlers escalate West Bank incursions.
Iran warned Washington it would launch a major retaliatory attack if Israel mounts a full-scale offensive on the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon. Three officials briefed on the message told Reuters that Tehran delivered this warning through Oman in mid-August. The strategic location remains a focal point for regional tensions and potential military escalation between state and non-state actors in the Levant region.
A third official stated that United States pressure prompted Israel to postpone an assault on the strategically important ridge. More than a dozen members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including at least two senior officers, are reportedly sheltering there alongside Hezbollah fighters. Two officials confirmed this presence, although Hezbollah neither confirmed nor denied that its forces are hosting these Iranian military personnel within their positions.
Israeli forces currently occupy territory south of Ali al-Taher and have designated the ridge a primary operational focus. An official familiar with the situation said Israel has attempted to besiege those inside and intercept drones delivering food and water. These tactical maneuvers aim to isolate the defenders and degrade their logistical capabilities while maintaining a tight perimeter around the contested hill area.
Hezbollah stated it still controlled the hill and would confront any Israeli advance in the area. Its media office said Iran considers any Israeli move on the ground in southern Lebanon, especially territorial expansion, a major violation of the Islamabad Agreement. This reference points to the June US-Iran memorandum that included a Lebanon ceasefire, which Israel has continued to violate by attacking the area.
The White House rejected the account of Iran’s warning, stating that the report is not accurate. Despite this diplomatic denial, the military posture around the ridge remains tense. The strategic importance of the location continues to draw international attention as regional powers navigate complex alliances and security concerns amidst ongoing conflicts and fragile ceasefire agreements in the broader Middle East theater.
In the West Bank, armed Israeli settlers have begun making regular unauthorized exploratory hikes through Qira village in Salfit. They inspect ancient sites and assign Hebrew names, signaling a precursor to territorial expansion. One founder declared that wherever the hiker's foot treads, the border will pass. This trajectory mirrors violence in Tell, where four Palestinians were killed after similar settler incursions sparked deadly confrontations recently.