Israel discovers underground drone factory under Lebanon mountain

The Israeli military has gained control of a vast underground facility in Lebanon, located beneath a mountain near the Israeli border, which served as a drone factory for the Hezbollah militant group. The Times of Israel reports that the site was used to assemble drones based on Iranian designs.

Constructed over the last decade with assistance from Iran, the complex is protected by large, blast-proof steel doors. Last week, the Israeli military invited journalists to visit the site, a tour conducted at night to mitigate the risk of attacks from Lebanon. The tunnels extend several hundred meters into the mountain, reaching depths of up to 29 meters, and lie beneath the Lebanese town of Majdal Zoun.

Upon securing the tunnels, soldiers discovered approximately 50 drones. Each drone reportedly contained around 30 kilograms of explosives and had a flight range of 200-500 kilometers, sufficient to reach anywhere in Israel. This marks the first time the Israeli military has captured intact Iranian drones of this specific model. The military stated that these drones provide crucial intelligence on Iran's military activities.

In addition to the drones, soldiers found about eight tons of explosives stored in underground rooms within the facility. On the southern side of the mountain, openings were identified from which Hezbollah had launched drones into Israel. The Israeli Air Force had previously targeted the site during the conflict with Hezbollah in 2024, but military officials noted that the militant group later attempted to rebuild the infrastructure. When soldiers advanced into southern Lebanon following clashes that began in early March, the military decided to advance on Majdal Zoun by land to capture and destroy the site.