Israeli forces used about 1,100 tonnes of explosives to destroy an underground
Hezbollah tunnel complex on the Ali Taher ridge, a strategic high ground
overlooking Nabatieh, much of southern Lebanon and northern Israel. Israel
framed the strike as a strategic victory and potential turning point; Hezbollah
rejects that assessment, saying it does not regard the loss as a battlefield
defeat because its tactics have shifted. Since the March outbreak of
hostilities, Hezbollah has been unable to hold fixed positions under Israeli air
superiority and is pursuing a war of attrition aimed at raising the cost of any
ground presence. Hezbollah attacks draw Israeli reprisals against populated
areas, forcing evacuations, and the situation has escalated over the past two
weeks.
