IDF Repels Hezbollah Drone Attack on Ali Taher Ridge in Lebanon
IDF troops intercepted a Hezbollah explosive drone targeting forces on the strategic Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon. In response, Israel struck a Hezbollah facility in Arab Salim following an urgent civilian evacuation warning.
A day after the IDF established operational control over the strategic Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah launched two explosive drones on Sunday morning toward Israeli forces securing the area. IDF soldiers opened fire at one of the UAVs and successfully intercepted it. No casualties were reported among the troops.
Retaliatory Strike and Evacuation Orders
In response to the drone launch, the IDF targeted a Hezbollah facility in the southern Lebanese village of Arab Salim. Prior to the airstrike, the IDF's Arabic-language spokesperson, Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee (and Lt. Col. Ella Waweya), issued an urgent evacuation warning to the local population.
Residents inside the designated building and adjacent structures were instructed to evacuate immediately and move at least 300 meters away. The military stated that the IDF was compelled to act forcefully due to Hezbollah's "blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement."
IDF officials characterized the drone attack as a severe breach of terms, declaring:
"IDF forces will continue to operate in the security zone to remove any threat to Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers. The military will act decisively against repeated attempts by Hezbollah to target our forces."
Backlash Against Hezbollah in Lebanon
The loss of the Ali Taher ridge to the IDF has sparked intense domestic criticism against Hezbollah within Lebanon. For weeks, media outlets affiliated with the group portrayed the ridge as a vital strategic asset and a symbol of its defensive capabilities in the south. Following the IDF takeover, Hezbollah attempted to downplay the loss, describing the site as merely a "collection of defensive points."
Lebanese political figures and commentators argued that the fall of the ridge exposed Hezbollah's weakness and highlighted the gap between its rhetoric and reality on the ground. Lebanese Member of Parliament Fouad Makhzoumi accused the group of choosing to let Israel seize the ridge rather than handing it over to the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Surprise General Staff Exercise
Simultaneously, the IDF launched a surprise General Staff exercise dubbed "Dawn 2.0" early Sunday morning.
The drill, directed by IDF Chief of Staff Rav-Aluf (Eyal Zamir), was pre-planned and designed to test the military's readiness for a complex, multi-arena escalation.
