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· collected 2026-09-04 · by Reuters
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on social media that Israeli forces have cleared Hezbollah fighters from tunnels under the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, with some fighters eliminated and others fleeing. The operation follows a ceasefire announced in June between Israel and Hezbollah. Reuters reported earlier that Iran had warned the US about an Israeli assault on Hezbollah's positions in the area. The release of four Lebanese detainees held by Israel is also taking place as part of confidence-building measures between the two countries.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on September 4, 2026, that his country's military had cleared Hezbollah fighters from tunnels under the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon. The tunnel network was considered a key battleground in the Israel-Hezbollah war, which has been ongoing despite a ceasefire declared in June. According to Israeli authorities, some 30 Hezbollah fighters were either "eliminated" or fled during the operation, although the exact number and fate of those involved is unclear. The Iran-backed group, Hezbollah, has not commented on the situation so far. The Ali al-Taher ridge is a strategic location that offers commanding views over a wide area, making it a crucial control point for any military presence in southern Lebanon. Israel's operation to clear the tunnels comes as Iran warned the US last month of potential retaliation if Israeli forces were to launch an attack on Hezbollah positions in the region, according to Reuters.
Written for “Hezbollah Tunnel Conflict” on 2026-09-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but none of the 2 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 3867: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-04
Israel’s military has cleared Hezbollah fighters holed up in tunnels under the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Friday (September 4, 2026), though the Iran-backed group did not immediately comment.
asserted
group → clear → Friday
Israel had said Hezbollah fighters were embedded in tunnels under the ridge, which overlooks a wide area and had become one of the most hotly contested areas in the Israel-Hezbollah war, despite a ceasefire announced in June.
asserted
which → say → June
Reuters reported on Thursday (September 3, 2026) that Iran had warned the United States last month that it would respond forcefully to an Israeli assault on its Hezbollah allies’ positions within the ridge.
“The mission was completed and the tunnels were cleared of terrorists,” Mr. Katz said on social media, after a statement by the military late on Thursday saying it had operational control of the ridge.
asserted
it → report → ridge
The military said some Hezbollah fighters had been “eliminated”, while others had fled.
asserted
others → say → ?
Hezbollah did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Reuters was not able to independently verify the status of the ridge.
asserted
Reuters → respond → ridge
The Shi’ite Muslim group is believed to have built an underground command centre and weapons stores within the ridge and had said it would resist any Israeli assault.
asserted
it → believe → assault
Israel has expanded its military presence across swathes of southern Lebanon since launching a new campaign against Hezbollah in March.
asserted
Israel → expand → March
Release of detained Lebanese
On Friday, Israeli authorities transferred four people who had been detained in Israel to Lebanese authorities via the International Committee of the Red Cross.
asserted
who → detain → Cross
One Lebanese man had been released earlier on Thursday.
asserted
man → release → Thursday
The release of the detainees is part of confidence-building measures agreed in U.S.-brokered talks between Lebanon and Israel.
asserted
release → build → Lebanon
Israel said on Thursday that none of the five had been found to have ties to militant groups.
asserted
none → say → groups
A Lebanese committee advocating for Lebanese in Israeli custody says Israel has detained dozens of people inside Lebanon over the last six months.
asserted
Israel → advocate → months
Some have been released after days or weeks, others remain in Israeli custody.
asserted
others → release → custody
The ICRC said on Friday that it had not access to anyone in Israeli detention since October 2023.
asserted
it → say → October
“Many families in Lebanon are still waiting for answers about the fate of loved ones who may be detained, deceased or otherwise unaccounted for,” it said.
uncertain
it → wait → ones
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Friday that those freed this week were among a “first batch”, suggesting more could be coming.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Lebanon would also transfer the remains of Jewish figures killed in Lebanon in the 1980s to Israel, although there were no details of names or any timeframe.
uncertain
Lebanon → say → names
