IDF Releases Footage of Hezbollah Tunnel Network Destroyed in Southern Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has released new footage from within a strategic Hezbollah underground complex located beneath the Al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon. The extensive network, built over two decades and spanning more than two kilometers, was destroyed by the IDF using over 1,100 tons of explosives. The released videos show Hezbollah fighters moving through the narrow, branching tunnels and reveal equipment found within the complex.

The operation to dismantle the tunnel network was described by the IDF as one of its most complex in recent years, lasting approximately three months. It was part of a broader offensive that began four months prior, involving forces crossing the Litani River and employing deception tactics to surprise Hezbollah and degrade its regional presence. According to the IDF, around 50 Hezbollah operatives were initially in the underground system; most were eliminated during the operation, while others escaped or were injured attempting to flee. Hezbollah reportedly tried to reinforce the militants, evacuate the wounded, and supply them, with at least ten additional operatives killed while trying to reach the ridge.

The IDF clarified that contrary to some reports, the complex did not house hundreds of militants nor any Iranian personnel or experts. Soldiers faced challenging conditions, operating under constant threat from surveillance and explosives in what the army called a "huge military outpost." The operation involved destroying above-ground infrastructure and access shafts before entering and dismantling the underground network from within. A significant logistical challenge was transporting the large quantities of explosives into the tunnels under fire.

The operation concluded with the detonation of the underground structures, an explosion so powerful it was registered as a seismic event by the Geological Survey. The IDF stated that the destruction of this infrastructure significantly damaged Hezbollah's capabilities in the area and eliminated Iran's presence there. Following the operation, IDF forces will reorganize but will maintain control and enforcement along the border, with no planned changes to the deployment of two divisions in the region.