IDF Division 36 Deepens Its Ground Operation in Southern Lebanon and Kills Militants

Footage of our forces' activity in southern Lebanon | Photo: IDF Spokesperson

Forces from Division 36 continue to clear the vast tunnel network beneath the Beaufort Ridge, where command centers, anti-tank positions, mortars, anti-aircraft machine guns and weapons depots built over years with Iranian funding were found. In recent days, Hezbollah militants who fled from one of the underground routes were identified, and after they tried to escape, they were killed in an Israeli Air Force strike. At the same time, the scale of the divisional operation is becoming clear, an operation that led to crossing the Litani River, capturing the Beaufort Ridge and seizing terrorist infrastructure overlooking Metula and the Hula Valley.

The IDF Spokesperson released special footage this evening, Thursday, of activities by the commando brigade combat team and the Yahalom unit, operating under the command of Division 36 and guided by the Intelligence Directorate and Northern Command, to deepen the clearing of the underground tunnel network beneath the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon. This is a large-scale underground infrastructure planned and built over years with funding from the Iranian terror regime, and it served as a key asset for Hezbollah in conducting the fighting. During the clearing of the routes, large quantities of weapons were found, including mortar shells, fragmentation grenades, RPG launchers, Kornet missiles, anti-aircraft machine guns and Kalashnikov rifles.

In recent days, Egoz fighters operated to locate shafts and underground routes in the area. During the activity, a Yahalom drone identified militants inside one of the routes. The militants fired at the drone and fled the scene, but shortly afterward they were located together with additional militants who tried to escape from the tunnel. The Air Force, directed by forces on the ground, struck and killed all of the militants.

Behind the current operation stands a broad operational move that brought Division 36 deep into southern Lebanon. The division was the first to cross the Litani River and reach the Beaufort Ridge, after a lengthy preparation period that included deception operations, preliminary commando missions, clearing of terror infrastructure and preparation of movement routes. As part of the maneuver, a complex crossing of the Litani River was carried out using bridging equipment brought into the area after preparations that lasted weeks. The advance toward Beaufort included seizing Hezbollah's main defensive lines between the Litani and the Saluki. During the fighting, Golani Brigade forces led the advance and were the first to capture the Zaotari compound, while the actions of Golani and the 7th Brigade made it possible to continue the assault toward the Beaufort Ridge and seize the area overlooking Metula and the Hula Valley.

During operations in the area, a vast system of infrastructure built over years was exposed. According to findings on the ground, bunkers and fighting infrastructure were found in almost every house, alongside rockets aimed at the Finger of Galilee, ready-to-launch anti-tank missiles and additional weapons. On the Beaufort Ridge itself, an entire underground city was uncovered, including command centers, weapons depots, anti-tank firing positions, mortar positions, anti-aircraft machine guns and additional infrastructure intended to allow Hezbollah to continue fighting even under heavy strikes.

The IDF describes the scale of the infrastructure as exceptionally unusual. Some of the compounds exposed include advanced underground infrastructure, including living areas, command centers and fortified compounds built over years as part of Hezbollah's operational network in southern Lebanon. In parallel with the fighting against the infrastructure, the forces continue to confront militants operating in the area. Over the past month, all divisional units have killed more than 100 militants, including Radwan Force operatives. According to the data, dozens of militants were also killed during the fighting in the Litani area and during the advance toward the Beaufort Ridge. Despite the severe damage sustained by the terror organization, clashes with Hezbollah militants are still taking place in the area, as they continue to try to operate terrorist cells, mainly using explosive drones and anti-tank missiles.

Security officials assess that the forces' hold on Beaufort and the areas overlooking the border prevents infiltration attempts into Israeli territory and allows the continued exposure of the remaining infrastructure and weapons in the area. Over the past few weeks, three Givati Brigade soldiers have fallen in the sector's operations. At the same time, the IDF stresses that there is no shortage of forces and that the mission is not yet complete. The required operational achievement at this stage is to maintain the hold on the Beaufort Ridge, locate and destroy the remaining terror infrastructure in the area and continue striking Hezbollah operatives. The IDF assesses that significant work still remains in the Litani area and on the Beaufort Ridge, and that the activity is expected to continue in the coming weeks until the operational tasks set for the sector are completed.

Division 36, southern Lebanon, Beaufort, Litani, Hezbollah, IDF