Ali al-Taher Hill: A Strategic Site at the Heart of the Israel-Hezbollah Conflict in Southern Lebanon

Ali al-Taher Hill in southern Lebanon—named after a Shia religious figure whose shrine lies atop it—has become one of the most disputed areas in the war between Israel and Hezbollah.

This series of hills may not be large in area, but what they overlook in southeastern Lebanon—and what is suspected to be underground infrastructure built by Hezbollah beneath them—has placed them at the heart of the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed group.

Where is it located?

Ali al-Taher Hill lies about 15 kilometers from the Israeli border and offers a panoramic view over a vast stretch of southeastern Lebanon. Israel controlled it during its 22-year occupation of southern Lebanon, which ended in 2000.

After the outbreak of the current war on March 2, Israeli forces advanced deep into southern Lebanon and captured key hilltops, including the historic Qalat ash-Shaqif fortress located along the route leading to Ali al-Taher.

In June, the Israeli military described the hill as one of its "main operational focus points" and included it in a map of an expanded demilitarized zone it unilaterally declared, where its troops are deployed.

The hill has effectively become a dividing line between a section of Lebanese territory occupied by Israeli forces in the south and towns to the north that have been heavily bombed by Israeli airstrikes, including Nabatiye.

Why is it strategically important?

Lebanese security sources told Reuters in July that Hezbollah is believed to have constructed an underground command center and weapons storage facilities within the hill itself. According to analysts, the hill’s elevation of 600 meters above sea level enables the Lebanese group to launch short-range rockets and drones toward northern Israel.

Lebanese security sources also noted that Ali al-Taher Hill connects southern Lebanon’s border regions with the mountainous Al-Tuffah region to the north, which for years served as a major logistical and operational base for Hezbollah.

The Israeli Air Force has conducted intensive airstrikes on the hill over recent months.

In June, an Israeli military official who requested anonymity told Reuters that Hezbollah fighters were trapped underground without food or water. On June 20, the Times of Israel reported, citing a military investigation, that one Israeli soldier was killed and 13 others wounded during operations to seize a major Hezbollah facility beneath the hill.

Hezbollah stated that Israel attempted to advance but that its fighters still fully control the area and remain ready to repel any Israeli attempt to move forward or infiltrate.

In July, the Israeli army said it "will not allow Hezbollah terrorists to exit their underground terrorist infrastructure, carry out activities in the area, or pose a threat" to Israeli soldiers.

What is its political significance?

Ali al-Taher Hill is near Zawtari West, a town from which Israeli forces withdrew in July as part of a U.S.-brokered roadmap calling for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in exchange for Lebanese forces disarming Hezbollah.

However, with Hezbollah refusing to disarm—and Israel declaring it will not withdraw until the group is disarmed—the plan has stalled.

With Israel’s upcoming October elections approaching, control of Ali al-Taher Hill could represent a significant political gain sought by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Andrea Tinenti, a strategic communications expert and former spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), said, "Before the elections, Israel needs a major victory in an area long considered a stronghold of Hezbollah."

Nevertheless, Lebanese analyst and retired military officer Hassan Jouni believes Israel may prefer a slow siege to avoid casualties among its troops.

Jouni told Reuters that Israel is hesitant to launch an assault on Ali al-Taher Hill for fear of human losses, especially at this sensitive moment before the elections.

The impasse in Lebanon reflects the broader regional stalemate in the Middle East, where U.S.-Iran negotiations remain frozen without any sign of resolution in sight.