Iran has warned the United States of a strong response should Israel launch an attack on a mountain ridge in southern Lebanon, according to three officials familiar with the matter. The warning, issued last month, underscores Iran's continued direct involvement in the ground war in southern Lebanon and its readiness to retaliate against Israeli attacks. According to Lebanese security sources, Hezbollah is believed to have established a command center and weapons depot beneath the Ali al-Taher ridge. This ridge, overlooking southeastern Lebanon, has become one of the most fiercely contested locations in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Hezbollah has publicly stated that it controls the hill and will repel any Israeli attack. Israeli forces have occupied large swathes of territory south of Ali al-Taher and have publicly stated that the ridge is one of their "primary operational priorities." Tehran has threatened in a message to Washington that any full-scale Israeli attack on the ridge would be met with a massive Iranian response. Hezbollah declined to comment on the presence of Iranian forces in the ridge area. A White House official, responding to questions about the message or whether the United States pressured Israel not to attack Ali al-Taher, stated, "That's inaccurate."
