IDF: The Chief of the General Staff at the Beaufort Ridge: "The Beaufort area is dominant terrain saturated with terrorist infrastructure.
The Hezbollah terrorist organization, funded and directed by Iran, spent decades constructing underground tunnels throughout the area to threaten northern Israeli communities. Now, our troops have operational control of this key terrain both above ground…
Assessment
The Chief of Staff's visit to Beaufort Ridge signals that the IDF views this elevated area as a strategic prize, not just a battlefield objective. He frames the ceasefire as a direct result of military pressure, particularly the 36th Division's crossing of the Litani River, and warns that the IDF is ready to resume offensive operations if the Lebanese Armed Forces fail to clear Hezbollah from the zone. The statement also underscores Iran's ongoing role as Hezbollah's patron, suggesting that the ceasefire's durability depends on whether Tehran can or will rebuild its proxy's capabilities.