IDF unit shares process of dismantling Hezbollah's 'crazy, Iranian' terror tunnels in Lebanon

The Israeli Defense Forces' S-2 special engineering platoon has adapted its mission since October 7, 2023, moving from explosive ordnance disposal to the critical task of locating, mapping, and destroying strategic tunnels used by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Lieutenant Colonel D., the platoon commander, detailed the intricate process in an interview.

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When you have that 'eureka' moment, the moment you find the tunnel, the moment of success and cracking the riddle, it is like a bride on her wedding day. I am telling you, when I hit the tunnel exactly in the town of Majdal Zoun in southern Lebanon, I screamed. We all screamed with joy. We searched for that tunnel for five days.

He described the "eureka moment" of discovering a tunnel, likening it to a wedding day for the soldiers. The unit celebrated a significant success in the town of Majdal Zoun, after a five-day search for a particular tunnel. This tunnel was described as "massive" and "Iranian," measuring three meters high and three and a half meters wide, offering comfortable conditions for movement and breathing.

Destroying these tunnels presents complex challenges. The entrances are often booby-trapped or damaged by previous airstrikes. In one instance, the tunnel floor was laden with steel debris from an earlier Air Force strike. Soldiers had to clear this hazardous material before proceeding. The operation also involved overcoming four blast doors, each weighing five to seven tons, which had collapsed and needed to be stripped away to gain access to the rest of the tunnel network.

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This was a significant tunnel. Crazy. Iranian. Three meters high by three and a half meters wide. It is not the Carmel Tunnels, but compared to others, it is a wide tunnel. Comfortable. Also in terms of breathing and access.

Lt. Col. D. emphasized the unit's specialized capabilities in overcoming these "complex operational problems." The platoon integrates specially acquired solutions and employs small engineering equipment deep within enemy territory. While smaller tunnels require soldiers to operate in cramped conditions, the larger ones, like the one near Majdal Zoun, showcase the sophisticated and dangerous nature of this underground warfare.

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We had to move into an operation of stripping the heavy doors to create access to the rest of the tunnel. That is the greatness of Yahalom; it provides a solution to complex operational problems.