Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday praised IDF troops for the operation to destroy Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure on the Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon, revealing that the operation had been conducted under a heavy veil of secrecy.
“The IDF blew up the Ali al-Taher tunnels, the tunnels on the ridge that constituted a very powerful forward stronghold of Hezbollah," Katz said.
According to the Defense Minister, the stronghold “was built with Iranian backing and funding over the past 15 years, in order to serve as a springboard for the conquest of the Galilee and for attacks on IDF soldiers, and to defend the entire city of Nabatieh and the Nabatieh area."
“They asked whether we would do it. The answer is yes - we did it," Katz declared. “We imposed a heavy blackout, and the soldiers fought heroically and under difficult conditions."
Katz thanked the IDF commanders, Northern Command, and the soldiers who participated in the operation.
“I want to once again thank the IDF commanders, Northern Command, and the soldiers who fought heroically and professionally. More will be said about these things in the future. Not everything can be told," he said.
“They eliminated the enemy and destroyed the tunnels. We promised security to the residents of the north, and we delivered."
Katz added that at the beginning of the campaign, Israel’s political leadership instructed the IDF to maneuver into Lebanon as far as the anti-tank missile line in order to eliminate threats to Israeli communities.
“We instructed the IDF, at the beginning of the campaign, to maneuver into Lebanon, up to the anti-tank missile line, in order to remove the threats of raids and direct fire overlooking our communities," he said.
“The IDF did so with extraordinary heroism and courage, and completed the mission."
Katz concluded by saying that Israel has now established a security zone stretching across southern Lebanon.
“Today there is a Security Zone extending from the coastline in the west to the Beaufort, and as far as the approaches to Mount Hermon in the east."