IDF Reveals Footage of Hezbollah Tunnel Network Destruction

The Israeli military has released new footage detailing the destruction of Hezbollah's extensive tunnel network and command centers at the Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon. The operation, conducted over several months by forces including the 36th Division, Commando Brigade, and the Yahalom engineering unit, culminated in the detonation of over 1,100 tons of explosives.

New videos showcase the interior of the underground complex, including combat footage from a Yahalom soldier's body camera and drone footage illustrating the scale of the subterranean infrastructure. Dramatic scenes depict the elimination of Hezbollah operatives who were entrenched within the tunnels. The network, spanning over 5,400 meters across eight separate tunnels, served as a central command and control hub for Hezbollah's "Bader" unit and held significant strategic importance due to the ridge's control over the Nabatieh area.

Major General Yiftah Norkin, commander of the 36th Division, described the operation as one of the most complex ever undertaken, involving ground and underground combat against immediate and distant threats. The operation involved securing the surface, attacking tunnel entrances, and extensive underground maneuvering over approximately four months. Hezbollah operatives, estimated to be around 50, refused surrender offers and fought until most were eliminated or attempted to escape.

The IDF's efforts included ambushes, drone surveillance, and intercepting supplies intended for the militants. The destruction of the complex, a project developed by Hezbollah and Iran over two decades, was closely monitored by the Chief of Staff. While Israeli forces have withdrawn from the immediate ridge, they maintain remote control and surveillance, vowing to attack any attempt to reoccupy the area.