IDF Details Complex Four-Month Operation to Destroy Hezbollah Tunnel Network

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed new details on Friday about a complex, four-month operation in southern Lebanon that culminated in the destruction of a vast Hezbollah tunnel network in the Ali Taher mountain range. Senior IDF officers described the operation as one of the most intricate undertaken since the war began, involving extensive deception of Hezbollah, prolonged fighting against dozens of militants entrenched underground, and efforts to prevent escalation with Iran.

The IDF employed a sophisticated deception strategy, leading Hezbollah to believe forces were preparing to cross the Litani River. Instead, troops from the 36th Division executed a flanking maneuver, advancing towards the Litani from the rear and attacking the tunnel complex from an unexpected direction. This surprise move reportedly caused Hezbollah forces to retreat.

IDF assessments indicate that the destroyed tunnel network was Hezbollah's most significant operational hub south of Beirut, which has also sustained heavy damage. Following the capture of the Beaufort area, the focus shifted north to the Ali Taher range, where intense fighting against approximately 50 Hezbollah operatives occurred over three months, under constant threat from explosive drones.

Most of the militants were eliminated in the battles, though the exact number who escaped is unknown. Some were killed when they attempted to flee the tunnels and encountered Israeli forces, including the Egoz unit, in close-quarters combat. The operation involved detonating over 5,000 meters of tunnels using 1,100 tons of explosives, with soldiers from the Egoz and Maglan units manually planting hundreds of tons of explosives, followed by the highly dangerous work of the Yahalom special engineering unit.

During the operation, significant weaponry was recovered, including missiles, drones, RPGs, and other Hezbollah equipment. The IDF stated that Hezbollah abandoned its operatives in the area, and the region is now devoid of the organization's infrastructure. The military emphasized it has not withdrawn from the security zone in southern Lebanon and warned that any approach towards the "yellow line" would be met with fire. The IDF is also reorganizing its forces to control fire along the Mahov perimeter, which could serve as leverage in negotiations with the Lebanese government.