Israel destroys Hezbollah underground infrastructure in southern Lebanon

The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it destroyed underground infrastructure belonging to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The operation targeted a 200-meter-long tunnel in the town of Majdal Zoun, which the Israeli statement claimed contained hundreds of weapons and launchers. The United States was informed of the strike in advance, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.

This strike follows earlier Israeli military actions on Sunday, which reportedly included hitting Hezbollah militants armed with rocket-propelled grenades and targeting a rocket launcher in the Nabatieh area. The military stated its forces would remain in a security zone in southern Lebanon to "continue to destroy terrorist infrastructure, remove threats from the northern communities, and safeguard the security of Israel's citizens."

The incident occurs in the context of a US-brokered security agreement between Israel and Lebanon. This agreement outlines a phased Israeli withdrawal from parts of southern Lebanon, coupled with the deployment of the Lebanese army. However, Israeli forces are permitted to maintain a presence in an expanded security zone for the time being. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has rejected the agreement, labeling it a surrender and vowing to continue armed resistance.

Hezbollah and Iran have stated that Washington pledged to end hostilities in Lebanon as part of a memorandum of understanding signed two weeks prior to conclude the wider Iran war. The conflict has displaced over a million Lebanese from their homes.

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The Israeli military would remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon and will "continue to destroy terrorist infrastructure, remove threats from the northern communities, and safeguard the security of Israel's citizens."