Lebanese Politicians Slam Hezbollah After IDF Captures Ali Taher Ridge
Following the IDF takeover of the strategic Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, local politicians and military analysts accused Hezbollah of preferring to surrender positions to Israel rather than hand them to the Lebanese army.
Following the IDF's capture of the strategic Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, prominent Lebanese political figures and military analysts have launched fierce criticism against the Hezbollah terrorist organization.
Parliament Member Demands Disarmament
Fouad al-Makhzoumi, a Sunni member of the Lebanese parliament, accused the group of undermining national sovereignty:
"If the news of the fall of the Ali Taher ridge is correct, it means that you preferred to hand it over to Israel rather than to the Lebanese army—your army and the army of all Lebanese. What logic or wisdom accepts this?"
Al-Makhzoumi added that Hezbollah's weapons prevented the national army from entering its own land but failed to stop Israel from capturing it. He urged the group to hand over its weapons to the state before Lebanon is completely lost.
Hezbollah Downplays the Loss
In response to the military setback, Hezbollah officials attempted to minimize the significance of the ridge. Mahmoud Qamati, deputy head of Hezbollah's political council, claimed that Israel was trying to portray Ali Taher as a "massive military facility" when it was merely "a group of defensive points."
However, retired Lebanese Brigadier General and military analyst Khaled Hamada dismissed Qamati's remarks as a sign of weakness:
"Hezbollah's belittling of the fall of the Ali Taher ridge is an indication of defeat. The fall of the ridge is part of the consequences of Hezbollah's defeat in the area south of the Litani River, following the fall of Bint Jbeil, Al-Khiam, At-Tiri, Deir Siriane, and the Beaufort Castle."
Collapse of the Political Narrative
Writing in the veteran Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar, analyst Iskandar Khashashou noted that the loss of the ridge represents the collapse of Hezbollah's entire media narrative. For weeks, commentators aligned with the group had elevated the ridge to a symbol of resistance, comparing its strategic importance to the Strait of Hormuz.
Furthermore, the Lebanese outlet Al-Janoubia reported that the loss of the ridge exposes the depth of Hezbollah's military and political crisis. The outlet accused the group of being more willing to cede sensitive positions to Israeli forces than to hand them over to the Lebanese state.
