The IDF reports increased coordination between Hamas and Hezbollah with Iranian support, describing moves it says aim to rebuild an "axis of evil." A "battle of wits" around the Ali Taher ridge has seen Hezbollah using drones to probe Israeli positions, wounding three Yahalom soldiers. The Northern Command is intensifying intelligence operations to disrupt underground resupply routes, while strikes were carried out in Nabatieh. Political pressure from the White House has constrained broader strikes in Gaza City despite escalations along the Yellow Line.
IDF Says Hamas and Hezbollah Coordinating With Iran to Rebuild 'Axis of Evil' as Tensions Rise
Hamas terrorists celebrating during a rally in the northern Gaza Strip. (photo credit: SUHAIB SALEM/REUTERS)
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says Hamas and Hezbollah have stepped up coordinated activity in recent weeks with support from Iran, heightening friction on both the northern and southern fronts. Israeli military officials warn the cooperation appears aimed at reconstructing a pressure-building "axis of evil" targeted at Israel.
Northern Front: Ali Taher Ridge
A tense "battle of wits" is unfolding around the Ali Taher ridge between the IDF's Northern Command and Hezbollah, the military says. Hezbollah has been probing to locate Israeli positions and striking when it detects troop movement in so-called "gray areas." Early Saturday, for example, a fiber-optic drone exposed positions prior to an attack that wounded three soldiers from the Yahalom special engineering unit, which operates within the Commando Brigade.
Reports indicate Hezbollah is attempting to resupply fighters sheltering in underground networks. The IDF has launched complex intelligence and reconnaissance operations to map hidden supply routes, detect drone resupply activity, and identify subterranean infrastructure on the ridge so it can be neutralized.
Hezbollah tunnel network. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)
"Whoever comes out of the underground and surrenders will be taken for questioning in Israel, and whoever remains underground will either die, or we will kill him," a senior military source said.
Senior commanders say they are blocking access to the area and expect the fighters cannot hold out indefinitely. The IDF has carried out strikes in the Nabatieh area and other zones under its operational control; however, locations in Beirut and some senior Shi'ite targets have been left off-limits in response to a U.S. demand.
Southern Front: Gaza Strip and Political Restraints
On the southern front, an IDF tank drove over an explosive device in the southern Gaza Strip that the military assessed was recently planted. The Southern Command views the incident as an escalation along the Yellow Line, but Israel's political leadership did not authorize a broad strike into Gaza City.
Officials attribute that restraint to sensitivity from the White House, which has been pressing for an immediate halt to strikes in Gaza City and to targeted killings except when an imminent threat must be removed. U.S. pressure has therefore limited the scope of operations despite rising confrontations on both fronts.
Outlook
Military sources emphasize that intelligence-driven efforts and operational patience will be critical in countering the evolving tactics, including drone reconnaissance and subterranean resupply. The situation remains fluid and could change rapidly as both operational commanders and political leaders weigh military options against diplomatic constraints.
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