The Israeli announcement of achieving "operational control" over Ali al-Taher Heights has not ended the debate regarding the true situation both on and beneath the hill. A review conducted by an Associated Press photographer from the nearby town of Kafr Rumman adds a new element to the picture, as no visible Israeli military presence was detected atop the heights.
This observation does not rule out the possibility of Israeli forces being stationed in fortified or otherwise hidden locations, nor does it confirm their withdrawal from the hill. However, it emphasizes that the extent of control claimed by Israel remains unverifiable through independent means.
The Israeli military announced that it had secured the heights and was sweeping through underground facilities used by Hezbollah, claiming several fighters were killed inside the tunnels, while others managed to escape. Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated that forces would continue to disrupt the tunnels and entrench their presence to prevent Hezbollah's return to the area.
However, a Reuters report quoting a Lebanese officer presents a more complex picture of Israeli control. According to the officer, Israeli forces have taken control of the southern entrances to the complex and are now capable of monitoring northern entrances using drones, but this does not mean they have fully entered or controlled the entire tunnel network.
Ongoing airstrikes, explosions, and excavation activities around the heights fuel doubts about the true conclusion of the operation. If Israel had indeed taken full control of the hill and cleared its facilities, questions remain as to why extensive military activity persists and whether forces are still searching for additional passages and tunnels or working to destroy them before redeployment.
The Israeli military has yet to provide comprehensive documentation proving control over the entire underground network. The released images show parts of installations, rooms, and equipment but do not depict a complete survey of the complex or a map of its paths and entrances. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has not issued a detailed field statement clarifying the fate of the site or the fighters Israel claims were inside.
Thus, while Israeli advancement on Ali al-Taher appears confirmed, a significant gap remains between reaching the hill and controlling the tunnel entrances versus subduing the entire network extending beneath the heights. The absence of soldiers in the view captured by an international photographer does not definitively determine the truth of the deployment, leaving Israel's announcement facing unanswered questions that remain unaddressed by images or statements so far.