IDF considering handing Lebanese army control of Hezbollah underground compound - report

Israeli security officials are contemplating a significant shift in strategy, considering the possibility of handing over control of a Hezbollah tunnel compound in the southern Lebanese village of Tebnit to the Lebanese army. This idea has emerged in recent political and military discussions and is slated for further talks. The underlying rationale, according to sources familiar with the matter, is to assess the Lebanese army's capacity and commitment to confronting Hezbollah. "This could be a test for the ability and motivation of the Lebanese army to deal publicly and in an unprecedented way with Hezbollah," an Israeli source stated.

However, security officials acknowledge past difficulties the Lebanese army has faced in acting against the militant group. Tebnit has been a primary focus of IDF operations in southern Lebanon over the past week. Intelligence suggests that 30 to 40 Hezbollah operatives are active within a substantial underground compound. While IDF forces are positioned above the site, ongoing ceasefire negotiations between the U.S. and Iran have reportedly prevented direct intervention.

The compound is described as an extensive network of tunnels, and its neutralization is a key objective for military forces in the region. The Israeli military recently disclosed another underground facility in Majdal Zoun, approximately 10 kilometers from the Israeli border. This compound, extending over 200 meters in length and reaching a depth of 29 meters, contains 12 rooms, blast doors, four missile launch sites, and hundreds of weapons, according to the IDF.

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This could be a test for the ability and motivation of the Lebanese army to deal publicly and in an unprecedented way with Hezbollah