Ali Taher was IDF's most complex battle terrain yet, Egoz forces chief tells 'Post' - interview

Of all of the battle spaces of the last three years, from Gaza to Syria to the West Bank to Lebanon, the Ali Taher Ridge battle was the most complex to win, Egoz Special Forces Commander Lt.-Col. "M" told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.

The operation to capture the ridge at the edge of the IDF's zone in southern Lebanon lasted months, as dozens of terrorists, estimated to number around 50, were entrenched inside the tunnel until the IDF took control on September 3.

The IDF gave the operation to destroy the 14 tunnel routes on the ridge, stretching about 5.4 km in total, the codename “Chisel of Flames.”

M told the Post that the challenges were multifaceted.

How did an elite IDF unit win the battle of Ali Taher Ridge?

First, he said that the ascent of the 600-meter-high ridge was extremely difficult and contained very few paths.

This made it easier for Hezbollah to booby-trap access routes to its underground lair.

Next, M said that the volume of explosive drones that were sent to attack the Egoz special forces was unprecedented.

Yahalom Tunnel Special Forces Capt. "D" told the Post that the area near Hezbollah's lair and inside were covered in surveillance cameras and a variety of short-range and long-range improvised explosives so that anyone entering might think they were safe after getting past one explosive, only to fall victim to the next one.

Both M and D said the large boulders in the topography were a special challenge, but that Egoz and Yahalom rose to the occasion to clear the way for additional forces and blow up the entire complex.

In addition, both M and D talked about Iran's heavy contributions to the technological and tactical construction of the complex, making it unique in southern Lebanon.