IDF Destroys Hezbollah’s Iranian-Backed Drone Fortress in Southern Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently destroyed a major Hezbollah underground complex near the Lebanese border town of Majdal Zoun, described as a strategic "drone fortress" built with Iranian assistance. This subterranean facility, spanning over 200 meters in length and 25 meters deep, included large tunnels, command rooms, weapons depots, and dozens of Iranian-made drones. It was designed as a central base for Hezbollah’s drone operations targeting Israel.

Intelligence warnings about the site emerged nearly two years ago during Operation Northern Shield, when the IDF’s 36th Division recommended action against the complex. However, initial assessments by Air Force intelligence concluded the site was inactive and lacked weapons, leading to a decision not to capture it at that time. Only recently, as ground forces advanced, was the true scale and armament of the facility uncovered by the elite Yahalom unit.

The discovery revealed extensive weaponry including hundreds of munitions, anti-tank missiles, and four horizontal launch shafts aimed at Israel. More than 20 Hezbollah militants were killed during the operation, including around 10 from the Radwan Force. The captured drones and weapons, confirmed to be Iranian in origin, are now under Israeli investigation to gain insights into Iranian drone technology and Hezbollah’s operational methods.

The IDF’s demolition of the tunnel network was part of Operation Final Clause, with a massive explosion that completely destroyed the infrastructure and was audible in northern Israeli communities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel had informed the United States and its representative in Lebanon in advance of the strike. They emphasized that IDF commanders and troops will remain in the southern Lebanon security zone to continue dismantling terrorist infrastructure and protecting northern Israeli residents.

This operation highlights the ongoing threat posed by Hezbollah’s Iranian-backed military buildup near Israel’s border and the IDF’s commitment to neutralizing such threats proactively.