Iran Responds to Reports of 'Its Elements Being Held' in Ali al-Tahir Tunnels

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps entered the debate over the tunnels seized by the Israeli army in the Ali al-Tahir heights in southern Lebanon, denying reports claiming Iranian personnel were trapped inside, while simultaneously revealing that dozens of Hezbollah fighters were present in two tunnels stormed by Israeli forces.

Israeli Channel 14 reported circulating information suggesting that Iranian personnel remained inside the tunnel network after Israeli military control of the area, without providing independent evidence to confirm these claims.

Iran Denies… and Reveals a Number

Channel 14 quoted a statement from the Revolutionary Guard saying allegations about Iranian personnel being detained inside the Ali al-Tahir tunnels "are baseless".

The statement, according to the Israeli source, added that the two tunnels seized by the Israeli army contained 48 Hezbollah fighters, eight of whom were killed during the operation.

Israel Aims to Stay

The significance of these developments extends beyond the fate of the tunnels themselves, as Israel declared its intent to establish a permanent military presence in the Ali al-Tahir heights and prevent Hezbollah from returning.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated the area has become part of what Israel describes as its "security zone" within Lebanon, confirming that the Israeli military will not withdraw from the region at this stage.

700 Square Kilometers

According to Katz, the area Israel seeks to retain spans approximately 700 square kilometers, stretching from the coast westward through the Qalat ash-Shaqif region to Mount Sheikh eastward.

The defense minister linked any future Israeli withdrawal to the disarmament of Hezbollah throughout Lebanon.