Israeli operations remain focused on consolidating control over a security zone in southern Lebanon, with recent advances centered on capturing the Ali al-Taher Ridge near Nabatieh in early September 2026 and responding to Hezbollah drone and rocket activity through targeted strikes. Defense Minister Israel Katz has stated that forces will not withdraw until Hezbollah is disarmed but emphasized no territorial ambitions beyond that zone, marking the ridge seizure as the completion of southern objectives under the U.S.-brokered June framework. Ongoing clashes and evacuation warnings have stayed south of Beirut, with no verified northward movements or preparations reported in the past month. Diplomatic efforts involving mediators continue amid the fragile ceasefire, while Lebanese army deployments in pilot zones test the handover process. These factors shape trader views on the timeline and scope for any potential advance toward the capital.