IDF Awaits Approval from Trump to Destroy Hezbollah's Extensive Border Tunnels

Israeli military correspondent Avi Ashkenazi revealed in a discussion with Prof. Aryeh Eldad and Ron Kopman that Hezbollah's large tunnel network near the Israel-Lebanon border has not yet been destroyed because the IDF is "waiting for approval" from the current authority, whom Ashkenazi identified as Donald Trump. Ashkenazi compared the scale of the tunnels to that of a light rail system, emphasizing their vast size and the extensive intelligence and resources required to locate and excavate them.

The tunnels, located in areas such as Majdal Zun and the Bofor ridge, are close to the Israeli border and were known to exist for some time. Ashkenazi accompanied IDF forces inspecting the tunnels and described the operation as involving massive amounts of concrete and complex engineering, far beyond simple digging.

Ashkenazi also addressed a recent controversy within the IDF regarding credit for eliminating a terrorist. The incident began when a terrorist cell attacked a soldier from the Yiftach Brigade, seriously wounding him. Following artillery fire and encirclement, the IDF found one terrorist's body but suspected more were involved. After extensive surveillance, a "pressure cooker" procedure was implemented, leading to a firefight involving an Oketz unit dog handler and other forces, resulting in one terrorist captured and another killed.

When questioned about the public disputes over operational credit between IDF units, Ashkenazi attributed it to internal unit dynamics and declined to elaborate beyond stating the facts. The report highlights ongoing IDF efforts to neutralize Hezbollah's tunnel threat while navigating political and operational complexities.