IDF Deepens Push in South Lebanon as Iran Deal Looms

Heavy fighting in southern Lebanon continues, even as Israeli commanders say the battlefield is being shaped by diplomatic developments. Hezbollah launched several drones into Israel early Sunday, and they exploded on Israeli soil without causing injuries. In recent days, clashes with Hezbollah operatives have intensified, a familiar pattern before possible arrangements, as each side tries to improve its position on the ground.

A senior military source said the army is not being distracted by the rumors. “Not everything that is said is accurate,” he said, adding that the IDF is trained for the possibility of agreements while maintaining constant offensive intent. He said the heightened focus on defense is not new, but part of the campaign from the start.

One of the main achievements of engineering and special forces, including Yahalom, has been exposing and neutralizing a large Hezbollah underground infrastructure. The source said it is similar to the earlier “City of Refuge” project, an Iranian-built system whose construction began at the end of the last decade and was meant to protect the Beaufort Ridge and Ali Tahrer areas. He said Israeli forces now have full control there under Division 36, and searches have uncovered a large weapons cache, including anti-aircraft missiles, RPG rockets and Kalashnikov rifles. Over the weekend, troops also found a command room that overlooked all of the Finger of the Galilee settlements, along with Hezbollah vehicles.

The officer compared the Lebanese underground network with Gaza, saying the terrain changes everything. In Gaza, tunnels are easier to dig and more twisted, while in Lebanon, hard mountain rock makes tunneling slower and more limited. He said that in Lebanon, once the IDF controls the tunnel openings, “the event is won.” The difference has also shifted Hezbollah’s investment toward drones and UAVs rather than tunneling.

The campaign has also changed how the IDF uses its special engineering units. Instead of being called only after forces encounter a tunnel, they are now involved from the planning stage. The army says it has learned a great deal over the past two and a half years, and that underground warfare is now treated as an essential combat dimension. With the ground cleared on the ridge, Israeli forces see themselves as being in a strong position for a possible move on Nabatieh, a major Hezbollah center in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah is pressuring Iran to include the group in any deal that could halt the fighting. It remains unclear whether Israel would withdraw, and if so, from where and under what terms.