Hezbollah is trying to comment as little as possible on the Israeli announcement of the clearing of the Ali Taher Ridge, and they even claim that the Israeli media is exaggerating the event into an achievement.
The Ali Taher Ridge dominates the Nabatia region and routes connecting southern Lebanon to the Aqlim al-Tufah region - one of Hezbollah's historical power bases. Control of it hampers the terrorist organization's ability to move, transport supplies, and launch missiles and drones toward Israel.
""Even if it's true, it's not a disaster," said Lebanese Hezbollah member of parliament Ihab Hamada.
However, according to a report this evening (Saturday) by Roy Kays, a Lebanese political figure who opposes Hezbollah told Kan News: "Hezbollah is stammering on the issue because the loss of Ali Taher is a blow to them, because beyond the loss of the military infrastructure, it is a damage to his image in the domestic arena, as someone who supposedly protects Lebanon with his weapons, which turns out in the story to be a lie and a fabrication.".
Hezbollah also tried to downplay Lebanon's success in leading to the release of five Lebanese prisoners who were imprisoned in Israel - saying that this did not cover up the continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
The Lebanese political figure responded to this to 'Kan News': "Hezbollah is embarrassed, because because of it those Lebanese were arrested by Israel and now the state is managing to release them - this takes away from its power.".
The IDF is preparing to withdraw to the gray line
Meanwhile, the IDF is preparing to reduce forces in southern Lebanon after the destruction of the Ali Taher Ridge tunnels.
Security sources told Itai Blumenthal of Kan News that discussions were recently held within the security establishment about establishing a new security zone, closer to the Israeli border, from which the IDF would protect residents of the confrontation line.
According to the plan, instead of the "yellow line" in Lebanon, which includes the Israeli security zone, in certain areas also north of the Litani, such as Beaufort, IDF forces will withdraw and position themselves closer to the Israeli border, at a distance of between three and four kilometers.
A deployment that was given the name 'The Gray Line' - on this line, within Lebanese territory, outposts will be built and IDF forces will operate in them.
The plan is not yet complete and has not yet been approved by the political echelon. There are quite a few questions: mainly regarding the transfer of territory to the Lebanese army and the negotiations between the countries - but the bottom line is that preparations are being made for a significant reduction in forces.
