Israel Demolishes Hezbollah Tunnels in Southern Lebanon with Massive Explosions

The Israeli military destroyed Hezbollah's underground tunnel network in the Al-Taher hill area of southern Lebanon on Thursday night into Friday, using over 1,100 tons of explosives. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the operation in a joint statement, calling it the "destruction" of the infrastructure. Israeli reports, citing an army briefing, indicated the military is prepared for various scenarios, including multi-front conflict, following the demolition. The explosions, described as massive, caused a 4.1 magnitude earthquake detected by the U.S. Geological Survey and were heard in northern Israel and Lebanon. Border communities in northern Israel had issued warnings about potential explosions.

Netanyahu and Katz stated that the operation, based on their directives, "destroyed Hezbollah's underground infrastructure in Al-Taher hill, thereby completing the organization of the security zone in southern Lebanon." They characterized the infrastructure as strategic, developed over two decades with Iranian funding and planning, intended as a base for occupying the Galilee and controlling Metula and Kiryat Shmona through surveillance and firepower. Its destruction, they asserted, completes operational control of the hill, both above and below ground.

The Israeli military confirmed the completion of the tunnel destruction, stating its forces had recently achieved operational control of the area. According to a military statement, the 36th Division's forces destroyed the underground routes after extensive preparatory activity to neutralize Hezbollah's ability to plan and execute operations against Israeli civilians and military forces from this infrastructure. The destroyed tunnels spanned over two kilometers and contained Iranian-produced rockets, missiles, drones, machine guns, anti-tank missiles, and explosives.

This operation follows ongoing Israeli escalation in southern Lebanon, including airstrikes and artillery fire on Thursday. The Lebanese National News Agency reported Israeli airstrikes targeting residential areas in Mansouri and a house in Haris-Hadatha. The article also references a recent Reuters report indicating Iran had warned the United States of a strong response to any Israeli attack on Al-Taher hill.