IDF destroys Iran-backed Hezbollah tunnel systems, says more remain in southern Lebanon

The Israeli military has destroyed Hezbollah's underground tunnel network in the Beaufort area and along the Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon, using hundreds of tons of explosives. This operation is considered a significant strategic blow to the Iran-backed group, according to data presented to Defense Minister Israel Katz.

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For years we knew about the underground system that the Iranians and Hezbollah had excavated there. We understood that it was intended not only for surveillance and intelligence gathering but also to support direct fire against Israeli communities and military positions. Only after conducting a comprehensive survey of the network did we realize how critical it was to Hezbollah's operational plan for attacking Israel.

Senior officers in the IDF Northern Command revealed that the military had been aware for years of the extensive underground tunnels constructed by Iran and Hezbollah. They understood the network was designed not only for surveillance and intelligence gathering but also to support direct fire against Israeli communities and military positions. A comprehensive survey revealed the critical role these tunnels played in Hezbollah's operational plans for attacking Israel.

A greater concern for the IDF is the continued existence of similar underground infrastructure in southern Lebanon that has yet to be located or destroyed. Officers expressed apprehension that the Lebanese Armed Forces are incapable of managing these sites. They warned that if the IDF does not receive authorization from the political leadership, potentially due to American restrictions, Hezbollah will retain these strategic assets.

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The assessment is that the Lebanese Armed Forces are incapable of dealing with these sites. If the IDF does not receive authorization from the political leadership because of American restrictions, Hezbollah will continue to retain strategic assets.

Israeli Military Intelligence and the Northern Command have gained a deeper understanding of the project's scope, recognizing how it was integrated into Hezbollah's operational concept for attacking Israel and capturing the Galilee. The tunnels were designed to be interconnected, allowing Hezbollah to remain entrenched for months while continuing to fire on Israel. Despite a ceasefire, the IDF has reportedly strengthened its operational grip on Hezbollah activity centers in southern Lebanon. In one recent incident, troops identified Hezbollah operatives emerging from a concealed underground compound, leading to an exchange of fire in which an IDF officer was moderately wounded.

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They came to understand the process the Iranians led in southern Lebanon, how sensitive it was to Hezbollah's operational plan to capture the Galilee and hold territory, and how it was connected to other underground sites. It was no coincidence that not all of the infrastructure was interconnected. That created a sophisticated operational concept for striking Israel. They were prepared to remain entrenched in these underground facilities for months while continuing to fire at Israel.