Claimed Israeli capture of Lebanese ridge reshapes negotiation dynamics

Israel’s claimed capture of the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon could give it greater leverage in negotiations with the Lebanese government later this month, analysts told Al Jazeera.

The operation has continued for weeks, accompanied by frequent Israeli drone and air strikes. The ridge is strategically important because it overlooks several nearby areas, including the southern city of Nabatieh. Israel says Hezbollah built tunnels beneath the high ground and maintained underground operations rooms, weapons stores and living quarters there.

Although Israel says it controls the ridge, military operations and attacks are reportedly continuing. The fighting is taking place despite the June ceasefire agreed between Israel and Lebanon, which the article says has been repeatedly violated.

Political and security analyst Bassel Doueik said the ridge could influence the outcome of Lebanese-Israeli negotiations. “Israel has continued to breach the ceasefire daily and the Lebanese government is still trying to negotiate because it doesn’t have any other choice,” he said. “However, if Israel actually occupies the hill, it will give it more of an upper hand in the negotiations because it will be occupying more land.”

Israel and Lebanon began U.S.-mediated direct negotiations in April, despite Hezbollah’s opposition. The talks followed nearly three years of Israeli attacks on Lebanon. A framework agreement announced in late June aimed to end the fighting and establish so-called pilot zones where the Lebanese Army would displace Israeli forces, but the supplied article ends before describing the full arrangement. It says optimism remains limited after the conflict’s heavy casualties, attacks across Lebanon and repeated breaches of earlier ceasefires.

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Israel has continued to breach the ceasefire daily and the Lebanese government is still trying to negotiate because it doesn’t have any other choice. However, if Israel actually occupies the hill, it will give it more of an upper hand in the negotiations because it will be occupying more land.