IDF Destroys Hezbollah Tunnel Network in Southern Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday the completion of a prolonged operation to destroy Hezbollah's strategic tunnel network on the Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon. The operation targeted eight tunnels, totaling over 5.4 kilometers in length, along with command centers, living quarters, and storage facilities containing missiles, drones, and hundreds of explosives. Over 1,100 tons of explosives were used to neutralize these underground infrastructures, which were built over two decades with Iranian funding and planning, intended for use in a war against Israel and a plan to conquer Israeli communities in the Galilee.

The Iranian-backed complex was designed to aid in conquering the Galilee and controlling the Israeli towns of Metula and Kiryat Shmona. In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that the destruction of these infrastructures completes the achievement of operational control over the Ali Taher ridge, both above and below ground, and the organization of the security zone in southern Lebanon. The Ali Taher ridge is a strategically important elevated area overlooking Metula and Kiryat Shmona from the Israeli side and the Nabatieh region from the Lebanese side. Hezbollah had exploited the ridge's topography to establish an extensive command, combat, and storage system from which it could observe and direct fire towards northern Israeli communities.

The tunnel network comprised eight underground passages exceeding 5.4 kilometers in total length. During the extensive explosions on Thursday, over two kilometers of these tunnels were destroyed after prolonged engineering preparations. The tunnels contained dozens of Iranian-made rockets and missiles, explosive-laden drones, machine guns, RPGs, hundreds of mines, and other military equipment, stored to allow Hezbollah operatives to reside there for extended periods and launch attacks. A central command complex for Hezbollah's "Badr" unit was discovered at the heart of the underground system, including war rooms, command posts, and living quarters, enabling operatives to manage combat from underground.

The operation, conducted over months by units including the 36th Division, Commando Brigade, and the Yahalom engineering unit, began with securing the surface area and pushing back militants. This involved ambushes, attacking tunnel entrances, drone operations, and artillery fire. Some militants abandoned the ridge under pressure, while others were eliminated. Those attempting to exit or resupply the tunnels were targeted from the air and by artillery. After gaining control of the surface, forces proceeded to the underground phase, with Yahalom and other units exploring, mapping, and collecting weapons from the tunnels before detonating most of them.

The IDF highlighted two main achievements: neutralizing the command center and underground network of the "Badr" unit, and gaining operational control of the ridge itself, providing an advantage over the area south of Nabatieh. This operation follows previous IDF actions against Hezbollah's underground infrastructure in the Beaufort area and villages like Arnon, Yuhmor, and Tibnit. The overall goal is to deny Hezbollah the ability to hold strategic areas, conceal forces and weapons, and resume operations against Israel. Netanyahu and Katz stated that Israeli forces are preparing for a redeployed defense in the security zone to prevent Hezbollah's return and the rebuilding of destroyed infrastructure, vowing to continue destroying terror infrastructure and thwarting any attempts by Hezbollah to re-establish itself.

The IDF emphasized that forces will continue to operate in southern Lebanon's security zone to remove threats, clear the area, and destroy terror infrastructure, while remaining committed to the ceasefire agreement. The IDF is preparing for various scenarios, including a multi-front war, and will prevent Hezbollah operatives from returning to the tunnels or re-establishing positions. The Geological Survey reported a controlled seismic event in southern Lebanon due to the explosions.