Hezbollah has moved on since its seizure of the towering Mount Sannine, the highest point of the Mount Lebanon range – which was first revealed by DEBKAfile.

As Iranian and Syrian radar and anti-air weapons officers settled on the strategic peak, our military sources report the Lebanese terrorist group proceeded to grab positions on the Western ridge of Jebel Barukh, east of Jezzine, a move which brings it closer to the Israel border.

Perched atop Lebanon’s two tallest mountain peaks, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran are able to control most of Israel’s air space to the south and the heartlands of Lebanon’s Christian centers, as well as Mediterranean coastal waters.

Contrary to the picture presented by Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert to the Knesset foreign affairs and defense committee Monday, July 28 (“Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is losing his self-confidence”), Hezbollah is back in strength in the military enclaves circled in the accompanying map, where its war preparations proceed apace.

These enclaves are off-limits to civilians.

Scores of military bases have arisen around three main centers close to the Israeli border at Marjayun, Nabatiya and Hasbaya. Marked on the map are two lines of fortifications and large-scale concentrations of fighting strength:

1. One line is arrayed northwest of the Zahrani River to obstruct Israeli forces attempting to break through to Jebel Barukh and Mt. Sannine, as well as shielding the 10th and 14th Syrian armored divisions straddling the Syrian-Lebanese border opposite the Israeli positions on Mt. Hermon and Mt. Dov.

2. North-west of the first line, a long chain of positions is ranged across the breadth of South Lebanon, from Mt. Hermon in the east, up to Sidon on the Mediterranean coast to the west. It is there to block an Israeli advance on Hezbollah-ruled Shiite centers.